Soldiers Become Citizens
SPRINGDALE BROTHERS GET FAST TRACK TO NATURALIZATION
Monday, November 30, 2009
When the Lemus brothers of Springdale deployed to Iraq with the Arkansas National Guard, they had no idea they could return as citizens of the country they were defending.
Both Adalberto Lemus, 26, and Daniel Lemus, 21, born in Mexico, are full-fledged American citizens now, thanks to streamlined naturalization rules enacted by Congress.
Congress modified the rules of naturalization following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to encourage immigrants to enter the armed forces. By October 2009, more than 53,000 immigrants had been naturalized under conditions available through military service. Citizenship was conferred posthumously for 119 immigrants who died in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Lemus brothers first entered the military in the summer of 2006. Adalberto completed the application process in Iraq and had his naturalization ceremony there in November 2008. Daniel’s naturalization ceremony took place in Fort Smith in January 2009.
“I’m proud of my Hispanic heritage and, at the same time, I feel like an American for having lived here so many years,” Daniel said.
The two brothers had a second ceremony Oct. 2 in Little Rock where eight more Arkansas National Guard soldiers received their citizenship.
The Lemus brothers were both sent to Iraq in April 2008 and served as escorts for trucks that transported food, gasoline and other material. Adalberto said foot patrols outside base perimeters offered routine danger because of roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices.
“We give thanks to God that we never set them off,” Adalberto said.
Adalberto said that he would willingly die for the United States.
“This country, in one sense, has given me what I could not attain in Mexico,” said Adalberto, adding that he is looking forward to voting in future elections.
Adalberto remembered seeing many Hispanics in Iraq. When the brothers’ unit retired from the field it was replaced by a Texas National Guard unit, at least half of whom were Latinos, he said.
Adalberto was 10 years old, and Daniel 5, when they arrived in America. Daniel was the first to join the National Guard because he said he wanted to have a “good experience.”
“It was a quick decision. I had just finished high school and wanted to do something with my life,” Daniel said.
In a news release issued by the National Guard, Adjutant Gen. William Wofford said that the institution should reflect the demography of the nation’s communities.
Rudy de Anda, Hispanic coordinator of the Arkansas National Guard, commented that Hispanics compose 0.6 percent of the Guard, which does not reflect the demography of the state. The military doesn’t accept foreigners with illegal immigration status de Anda explained, but representatives of the National Guard are seeking authorization to enroll people with legal work documents, visas, or any other legal status. Under current rules, only people with permanent residence status are accepted.
“What we are seeking is the possibility to enlist people as if we were a (commercial or industrial) company. The law states that if there exists a vacant position that an American could not fill, an immigrant who is ‘available, ready and trained’ is eligible for the work,” de Anda said.
“If we can provide the citizenship, then people — preferably Latinos — will want to enroll and at the same time we can fill positions,” de Anda said. “Our job is to always be ready in case the nation needs us.”
AT A GLANCE
Armed Forces Foreigners
In June there were more than 114,600 foreigners in the U.S. armed forces, representing 7.9 percent of the 1.4 million men and women on active duty. During the fiscal year 2009, 10,505 of them became citizens.
Source: Immigration Policy Center report “Essential to the Fight: Immigrants in the Military Eight Years After 9/11”
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