2008 Woodie Awards
No Amnesty for Son's Sacrifice
The death of an illegal immigrant's son in combat in Iraq should not grant the father automatic amnesty.
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Opinion
Armando Soriano gave his life while trying to make a future for his family. The soldier died while fighting for the country he has lived in all of his life.
He was born in this country and bestowed with all the rights of a citizen while his parents lived illegally in Houston.
The U.S. military has an unofficial policy that encourages family members of deceased soldiers to apply for green cards and citizenship. The military works with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (part of Homeland Security) to give illegal immigrants a second chance at citizenship if a family member has made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of this country.
This policy may overlook certain factors usually pertinent when naturalizing immigrants in the interest of a streamlined process for a grieving family.
The military's unofficial policy is two-faced and confusing. In the absence of any comprehensive new legislation regarding immigrants illegally residing in the United
States, many loopholes have come to light. Though solutions are being discussed, the Army is taking advantage of a lack of legislation.
While on the whole they seem humanitarian, the problem is clear. Universal, comprehensive policy on illegal immigrants is needed, not favoritism. Why should amnesty hinge upon the death of an individual?
By that logic, any soldier that enlists in the armed forces should automatically be granted citizenship for all of his or her family in America. This action by the military is shameful, and while espousing familial bonds and values, actually ignores the plight of millions of families with members living illegally in America.
If a soldier with illegal immigrants for parents dies overseas, his family is granted legal residency, but if he makes it back home outside of a wooden box, everyone is in the same place they were before. This is not only seemingly illegal, it is also morally abhorrent.
Illegal immigrants, listen up! Destitute? Homeless? Are you in this country illegally and facing deportation? We have the remedy for you-convince your son to join the U.S. military. Uncle Sam wants him, even if you haven't been paying taxes for a decade or so and lack a little thing called citizenship.
He was born in this country and bestowed with all the rights of a citizen while his parents lived illegally in Houston.
The U.S. military has an unofficial policy that encourages family members of deceased soldiers to apply for green cards and citizenship. The military works with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (part of Homeland Security) to give illegal immigrants a second chance at citizenship if a family member has made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of this country.
This policy may overlook certain factors usually pertinent when naturalizing immigrants in the interest of a streamlined process for a grieving family.
The military's unofficial policy is two-faced and confusing. In the absence of any comprehensive new legislation regarding immigrants illegally residing in the United
States, many loopholes have come to light. Though solutions are being discussed, the Army is taking advantage of a lack of legislation.
While on the whole they seem humanitarian, the problem is clear. Universal, comprehensive policy on illegal immigrants is needed, not favoritism. Why should amnesty hinge upon the death of an individual?
By that logic, any soldier that enlists in the armed forces should automatically be granted citizenship for all of his or her family in America. This action by the military is shameful, and while espousing familial bonds and values, actually ignores the plight of millions of families with members living illegally in America.
If a soldier with illegal immigrants for parents dies overseas, his family is granted legal residency, but if he makes it back home outside of a wooden box, everyone is in the same place they were before. This is not only seemingly illegal, it is also morally abhorrent.
Illegal immigrants, listen up! Destitute? Homeless? Are you in this country illegally and facing deportation? We have the remedy for you-convince your son to join the U.S. military. Uncle Sam wants him, even if you haven't been paying taxes for a decade or so and lack a little thing called citizenship.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
posted 10/17/07 @ 11:10 AM PST
I really like your last sentence, "Until the government can be fair to everyone in this situation, Soriano should be given no special treatment." So, the gov't. (Continued…)
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