thedrifter
11-15-08, 07:58 AM
Marines Receive Awaited Citizenship
November 14, 2008
Marine Corps News|by Cpl. B.A. Curtis
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Four Marines and two sailors from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group received their citizenship during a naturalization ceremony.
The naturalized Marines and sailors from the group included Petty Officer 3rd Class Roberto A. Cisneros of 2nd Dental Battalion, Petty Officer 3rd Class Margaux Burke of 2nd Medical Battalion, Cpl. Ramon Guerra and Cpl. Napoleon Reyes of 8th Engineer Support Battalion and Cpl. Adrian Luevano of 2nd Maintenance Battalion.
According to the Department of Defense, President George W. Bush signed a law after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that allowed active duty non-citizens who have given at least one day of honorable service following Sept. 11, to file for immediate citizenship.
CNN.com reports that since the Global War on Terrorism began in October 2001, 37,000 non-citizens serving in the U.S. Armed Forces have been granted their citizenship.
The naturalization was planned and coordinated by Mitzi Lanier, the coordinator of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Camp Lejeune. The USCIS is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the U.S. It establishes immigration services and policies that ensure the U.S. keeps its legacy as a nation of immigrants, while ensuring no one who is admitted is a threat to public safety.
Lanier said her office assists service members and dependents with getting their citizenship by helping them prepare their paperwork and prepare for the test that will later be given by the USCIS.
Cpl. Napoleon Reyes, a Marine with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, was especially proud to finally become a citizen of the country he has been fighting for, for so long.
“It’s a lot different now,” the Mexico native explained. “Before I was fighting for a country that wasn’t mine. Now it is.”
Petty Officer 3rd Class Margaux Burke, a field medical service technician with Company Bravo, 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, followed her brother from the Philippines to the U.S. in 1999.
She joined the Navy shortly after her arrival to America. Now four years of service later, plus one combat tour to Iraq, Burke finally received her citizenship.
“I have been waiting for this for years,” she said. “I am just really happy to be a citizen.”
USCIS representatives said there are another 7,300 service members with citizenship requests pending. They said they will continue to help qualified immigrants who serve in the U.S. military who wish to receive citizenship and ensure they will have the earliest opportunity to do so.
Ellie
November 14, 2008
Marine Corps News|by Cpl. B.A. Curtis
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Four Marines and two sailors from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group received their citizenship during a naturalization ceremony.
The naturalized Marines and sailors from the group included Petty Officer 3rd Class Roberto A. Cisneros of 2nd Dental Battalion, Petty Officer 3rd Class Margaux Burke of 2nd Medical Battalion, Cpl. Ramon Guerra and Cpl. Napoleon Reyes of 8th Engineer Support Battalion and Cpl. Adrian Luevano of 2nd Maintenance Battalion.
According to the Department of Defense, President George W. Bush signed a law after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that allowed active duty non-citizens who have given at least one day of honorable service following Sept. 11, to file for immediate citizenship.
CNN.com reports that since the Global War on Terrorism began in October 2001, 37,000 non-citizens serving in the U.S. Armed Forces have been granted their citizenship.
The naturalization was planned and coordinated by Mitzi Lanier, the coordinator of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Camp Lejeune. The USCIS is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the U.S. It establishes immigration services and policies that ensure the U.S. keeps its legacy as a nation of immigrants, while ensuring no one who is admitted is a threat to public safety.
Lanier said her office assists service members and dependents with getting their citizenship by helping them prepare their paperwork and prepare for the test that will later be given by the USCIS.
Cpl. Napoleon Reyes, a Marine with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, was especially proud to finally become a citizen of the country he has been fighting for, for so long.
“It’s a lot different now,” the Mexico native explained. “Before I was fighting for a country that wasn’t mine. Now it is.”
Petty Officer 3rd Class Margaux Burke, a field medical service technician with Company Bravo, 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, followed her brother from the Philippines to the U.S. in 1999.
She joined the Navy shortly after her arrival to America. Now four years of service later, plus one combat tour to Iraq, Burke finally received her citizenship.
“I have been waiting for this for years,” she said. “I am just really happy to be a citizen.”
USCIS representatives said there are another 7,300 service members with citizenship requests pending. They said they will continue to help qualified immigrants who serve in the U.S. military who wish to receive citizenship and ensure they will have the earliest opportunity to do so.
Ellie