Military Citizenship Act Hailed

Military families and veterans gathered in East Los Angeles on Wednesday to celebrate passage of a law that makes the process of gaining American citizenship faster and easier for 37,000 U.S. military personnel.

The Military Citizenship Act, shepherded through Congress by Rep. Hilda Solis (D-El Monte), was prompted by increased attention to the issue brought about by the Iraq war.

It allows, for example, for swearing-in ceremonies to be held at overseas bases, consulates and embassies.

The law also waives fees for naturalization and reduces the length-of-service requirement from three years to one.

Solis called the law, signed by President Bush on Nov. 24, a “tremendous success,” because it had bipartisan support.

“This is a tribute to our men and women who are currently serving in Iraq,” she said at a news conference outside an American Red Cross building where military families regularly gather for a support group.

Solis said she was largely motivated by the story of Francisco Martinez Flores, a 20-year-old Marine from Duarte who died March 25 in the intense battle at Nasariyah, Iraq.

Flores, who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, dreamed of becoming a U.S. citizen, which required a swearing-in ceremony in the United States.

“All he had to do was get sworn in, but he was over there,” said his mother, Martha Flores.

“I dreamed of seeing him at the citizenship ceremony, in his uniform.”

At least a dozen noncitizen service members have died in Iraq, many of them Latino immigrants from the Southwest.

The law’s provisions also extend to the approximately 12,000 reservists who are noncitizens and is retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001.

“I think it’s about time,” said Army veteran Ben Perez, who served in the Korean War and is the son of immigrants from Mexico. “I had a brother killed in Korea, and they never gave us benefits like this.”

Luis Maldonado said he and his wife have been working since 2000 to get citizenship for their Peruvian-born son, who was raised in Maywood and is now a soldier in Baghdad.

“Every time we talk, he asks, ‘Dad, what’s up with the citizenship? “ Maldonado said. “He loves this country. He wants to become a citizen. I hope this helps.”

Martha Flores said the memory of her son’s service to the U.S. will live on in the new law.

Efforts are also underway in Duarte to name a local post office after him.

“I am happy today, yes,” Flores said. “But you can never take the pain away.”