More Than 200 Sailors Become Citizens

More Than 200 Sailors Become Citizens

NORFOLK, Va. -- More than 200 U.S. Navy sailors, including many who served in the Iraq war, were sworn in Friday as citizens of the country they defend.

The sailors had applied for U.S. citizenship under an executive order issued by President Bush last year, which made immigrants serving in the military since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks immediately eligible for naturalization.

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"I'm very happy to be an American," said Agbasi Ebuka, a 29-year-old petty officer 3rd class from Nigeria. "America is the most free country in the whole world. You have the freedom to live your life the way you want to."

Normally during peacetime, non-citizens in the military can apply for naturalization after three years of service. Immigrants not in the military must be legal residents for five years before they become eligible for naturalization.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-sailors-citizenship,0,2064364.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Instant cannon-fodder! Just like that scene in "Gangs of New York," where Irish immigrants are conscripted right off the boats to fight in the Civil War.

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that one can be a soldier in the US army without being US citizen?

I have served with many non U.S. citizens in my career in the military. Most of them were outstanding soldiers/airman and I was proud to serve with them.

He had been born in the British Virgin Islands. He was a terrific soldier.

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