A new bill introduced in the House would put a clear path to U.S. citizenship into law for undocumented immigrants who served in the U.S. military. The bill would allow noncitizen service members who have completed at least two years of honorable service to apply for citizenship without additional legal hurdles. It also would reinstate previously deported veterans who meet the bill's eligibility requirements and allow them to return to the U.S. to regain access to veterans' benefits.
Supporters argue that those who would die for the country should have a right to be full citizens. Advocacy groups said many of the noncitizen service members meet the moral and legal character requirements for naturalization but get hung up or rejected because of bureaucratic hurdles. Veterans groups have hailed the bill, saying that it makes no sense to deport military members after they've served their country for years.
Opponents of the bill said offering citizenship incentives through military service could encourage undocumented people to sign up solely to get legal status. Some lawmakers wanted the immigration laws enforced across the board and any road to citizenship wrapped into broader reforms. Others questioned how the bill could affect military recruitment policies and whether additional security clearances would be needed.
The bill attempts to put to rest a particularly belabored issue in the debate over undocumented veterans and service members who are forced to live in a state of legal limbo. It would set a precedent for recognizing military service as a clear and viable route to citizenship, reinforcing the country's commitment to those who defend it.
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