Fallen Soldiers are Granted Citizenship

Vida en el Valle, Juan Esparza Loera, Posted: Apr 09, 2003

The number of immigrant soldiers serving in the U.S. military has led to calls for expedited naturalization of the men and women who were born in another country but are fighting for Uncle Sam.

Last week, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (previously known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service) granted posthumous citizenship to Marine Cpl. José Angel Garibay and Lance Cpl. José Gutiérrez. Both men were killed in combat in Iraq.

"We're proud as a family that he was able to become a citizen because that's one of the things he wanted to do. And we are honored," said Lillian Cárdenas, foster sister of Gutiérrez.

The 22-year-old Gutiérrez, who migrated to California when he was 14, was one of the first casualties of the war against Iraq. He died March 22 in the port city of Umm Qasr.

State Sen. Dean Florez and Sen. Bárbara Boxer have introduced proposals to speed up the citizenship process for immigrant soldiers.

Florez has introduced a resolution in the state Senate asking that the U.S. Congress grant citizenship to "any and all immigrants honorably discharged from the military."

Meanwhile, Boxer has teamed with Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, to propose a reduction in the time required for immigrant soldiers to obtain U.S. citizenship.

"There are more than 37,000 patriotic individuals currently serving in the United States military who are not yet citizens," said Florez. "Several have already made the ultimate sacrifice for their adopted homeland, giving their lives in the war against Iraq."

Florez said past Congressional resolutions promising citizenship to Filipino and Japanese-Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces in World War I and World War II have not resulted in implementation. Currently, soldiers can apply for citizenship after completing three years of service.

Boxer wants the waiting period to be reduced to two years. She also wants to waive the naturalization filing fee and to allow soldiers to naturalize overseas.

"The men and women of our armed forces display incredible bravery and patriotism for this country," said Boxer. "With the nation at war and engaged in what is likely to be a long-term commitment to assisting in the reconstruction of Iraq, we want to recognize the sacrifice these men and women are making in serving the nation."

Boxer said immigrant soldiers "deserve to become U.S. citizens."

President Bush issued an order last July making immigrant soldiers immediately eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Meanwhile, the families of Gutiérrez and Garibay are planning funeral services.

Gutiérrez's body was to remain in Delaware until arrangements between the U.S. and Guatemala were finalized, family members told the Associated Press.

Garibay's family is awaiting the return of his remains. Garibay, a native of Jalisco, México, was killed March 23 in Nasiriyah, south of Baghdad.

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