44 troops become U.S. citizens in Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Soldiers and Marines from 21 countries swear allegiance to the U.S. as new citizens at a naturalization ceremony at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, May 26. Because of their active duty service in the armed forces, these servicemembers were granted citizens


44 troops become U.S. citizens in Afghanistan
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff Writer
Posted : Tuesday May 27, 2008 5:48:19 EDT

At a Memorial Day ceremony in Afghanistan, 44 U.S. service members from 21 countries raised their right hands and took the oath of allegiance, becoming American citizens while on duty in the combat zone.

More than 40,000 uniformed men and women have been naturalized since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Close to 5,000 of those have become U.S. citizens overseas, including Athe war zones, since October 2004 when overseas ceremonies for military personnel were authorized, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.

The USCIS has also granted posthumous citizenship to 109 members of the U.S. military.

The May 26 naturalization ceremony took place at Bagram Air Field just north of Kabul and the oath of citizenship was administered by Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to a press release from Combined Joint Task Force 101.

“On behalf of President Bush and a grateful nation, I say welcome,” Chertoff said in the release.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/army_memorial_oath_052608/

[annabanana]

1. I have NO problem with this!

I hope that ICE will believe them when they get swept up in the big anti-immigration sweeps when they get home...

[marylanddem]

2. The word that comes to mind: cannon fodder

Wouldn't surprise me if we were recruiting overseas with promises of naturalization.