Immigrants have served and defended our great nation since the Revolutionary War. Citizenship for service is a privilege that every noncitizen veteran and servicemember should be granted for their honorable service. However, some face deportation because they are unable to acquire U.S. citizenship. Forcing them to leave their families and the country they served. These men and women have upheld their oath to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. It is time for Congress to do the same for our noncitizen veterans and servicemembers.

H.R. 4569, the Veteran Service Recognition Act, would protect noncitizen veterans from deportation, and ensure that they and their families would still receive the benefits they earned if they are deported. This bill also expedites the process of naturalization for our noncitizen servicemembers. Ensuring that no veteran or servicemember slips through the cracks of our immigration system. 

The American Legion proudly supports the Veteran Service Recognition Act, and asks that you contact your representative and tell them to cosponsor and support H.R. 4569 today!

The Veteran Service Recognition Act will:

• Direct the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to implement a program that allows non-citizen servicemembers to file for naturalization during basic training, or as early as otherwise possible.
• Direct the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee. This committee will review the cases of non-citizen veterans and active duty servicemembers in removal proceedings and will provide recommendations on whether prosecutorial discretion is warranted, or whether the removal proceedings should continue.
• Provide an opportunity for non-citizen veterans who have been removed or ordered removed and who have not been convicted of serious crimes to apply for and obtain legal permanent resident status if it is in the public interest.