Joe Baca: “I support his motion because I strongly believe that we must expedite the citizenship process for immigrants that serve…”

“I support his motion because I strongly believe that we must expedite the citizenship process for immigrants that serve in the United States military. If they wear the American flag on their uniform everyday and proudly fight for this nation then I believe offering them citizenship is the least we can do. Thirty-seven thousand immigrants soldiers risk their lives everyday in defense of our Nation. These patriots may be of different nationalities but they share the same commitment to defend the United States. As a Nation, we must respect and honor those who are willing to fight and die for ideals of democracy and the ideals of the United States of America, regardless of their nationality. If we trust immigrants to die protecting this Nation then we must trust them to become American citizens. The Senate bill has provisions to allow these immigrant soldiers to become citizens after two years, rather than three and I support that. The Senate provision also allows immigrant soldiers to fulfill citizen requirements at U.S. facilities abroad and I support that. Currently, immigrant soldiers serving over seas are required to take leave, spend their own money and travel back to the U.S. to fulfill their citizenship requirements. The process is slow archaic, and wrong. No one should be punished for serving this Nation.”