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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsU.S. Army has moved in recent weeks to discharge dozens of immigrant recruits and reservists.
U.S. Army has moved in recent weeks to discharge dozens of immigrant recruits and reservists who enlisted through a program that promised them a path to citizenship.
Link to tweet
https://apnews.com/38334c4d061e493fb108bd975b5a1a5d/AP-NewsBreak:-US-Army-quietly-discharging-immigrant-recruits
It was my dream to serve in the military, said reservist Lucas Calixto, a Brazilian immigrant who filed a lawsuit against the Army last week. Since this country has been so good to me, I thought it was the least I could do to give back to my adopted country and serve in the United States military.
Some of the service members say they were not told why they were being discharged. Others who pressed for answers said the Army informed them theyd been labeled as security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defense Department had not completed background checks on them.
Spokespeople for the Pentagon and the Army said that, due to the pending litigation, they were unable to explain the discharges or respond to questions about whether there have been policy changes in any of the military branches.
Eligible recruits are required to have legal status in the U.S., such as a student visa, before enlisting. More than 5,000 immigrants were recruited into the program in 2016, and an estimated 10,000 are currently serving. Most go the Army, but some also go to the other military branches.
To become citizens, the service members need an honorable service designation, which can come after even just a few days at boot camp. But the recently discharged service members have had their basic training delayed, so they cant be naturalized.
Margaret Stock, an Alaska-based immigration attorney and a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who helped create the immigrant recruitment program, said shes been inundated over the past several days by recruits who have been abruptly discharged.
All had signed enlistment contracts and taken an Army oath, Stock said. Many were reservists who had been attending unit drills, receiving pay and undergoing training, while others had been in a delayed entry program, she said.
Immigrants have been serving in the Army since 1775, Stock said. We wouldnt have won the revolution without immigrants. And were not going to win the global war on terrorism today without immigrants.
.......i hate Trump and his racist fucking friends............................
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)I guess that 100% of the people being dismissed are Black, Brown, or from an Asian country originally.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)This was one of Trump's bitch's about his so called Illegals being allowed Citizenship or path to if they enlisted.
Watch for some Redneck Congressman offer legislation as to the draft.
Turbineguy
(37,372 posts)fuckin redhats in the Army? Let me guess. Kim Jung Un came up with this plan.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)punishing Hispanics. It is Election year and this crap will only be juiced to know end.
Quemado
(1,262 posts)I knew a few soldiers that had enlisted to earn citizenship. They made good soldiers. I don't see how this is really necessary.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)People, November 6th is now or never. If we let petty rivalries and infighting cause us to not take at least half of Congress, the country is screwed. Trump will read our failure as validation that he can do anything that he wants to do.
lpbk2713
(42,769 posts)We weren't supposed to know.
DeminPennswoods
(15,290 posts)Otherwise, Americans are looking at a draft - one that will include sons as well as daughters now.
former9thward
(32,096 posts)The military only needs 3% of those turning 18 in any given year. It has no problem getting that number. There will be no draft. The military doesn't want one and no one else does either.
DeminPennswoods
(15,290 posts)to Iraq and Afghanistan? The services took these immigrants because they needed them to fill recruiting targets. When there is lots of interest from native born Americans, the services are picky about who they recruit. That's not the case now.
former9thward
(32,096 posts)"Dozens" leaving is a minuscule number. You are wrong. The military is very picky about recruits. People rotate in Afghanistan because they volunteer for higher pay. No one is forcing them.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I'm sure the goons that run the gov't will be able to help him get a contract. And I am sure he will be happy to pay whatever the going rate for brib...errr...lobbying...is.
msongs
(67,459 posts)former9thward
(32,096 posts)The military has 2.1 million active and reserve personnel. They discharge tens of thousands every year. Dozens is a rounding error for the military.
rickford66
(5,528 posts)ansible
(1,718 posts)I wasn't a US citizen and they even needed my passport to document immigration status. Did something change recently? I thought only green card holders could enlist.
Takket
(21,640 posts)Immigrants being discharged, Transgender soldiers being kicked out...........
Drumpf is trying to build an Arian Army in Hitler's image be eliminating non whites/heterosexuals from the military............ expect the women to be moved into non combat related paper pushing jobs to get them out of the way too.......... He wants to build the fighting force from those most likely to be MAGA heads... what is he getting ready for?
This is just admittedly speculation on my part, but I don't like where this is leading........
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)VOX
(22,976 posts)He's at least half-crazy, changes his mind 12 times a day, wants to build more missiles, etc. He is DANGEROUS to the entire planet.