Filipino ‘Heroes’ Sworn In as U.S. Citizens

More than 50 Filipinos whose citizenship applications were challenged by the government, even though they served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II, were sworn in as U.S. citizens Monday, winning praise from a federal judge who called them heroes.

U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter Jr. administered the oath of citizenship to the 56 men, then rose and applauded them.

Stephen Sholomson, general counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said after the hearing that hundreds of the approximately 4,000 Filipinos who served the United States during World War II have been granted citizenship.

The INS contested some applications, including those of the men who became citizens Monday, because it contended that they showed insufficient proof of military service or did not apply before the Dec. 1, 1946, cutoff date.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide this year on whether immigrant veterans are eligible for naturalization if they never made an attempt to apply for citizenship before the deadline. Hatter ruled that the 56 Filipinos sworn in Monday were eligible for citizenship, but made it clear that his ruling may become moot if the Supreme Court sides with immigration officials.