Army stops discharges of immigrant recruits

The U.S. Army has stopped discharging immigrant recruits seeking a path to citizenship — at least temporarily.

A memo shared with The Associated Press spells out orders to Army officials to stop processing discharges of men and women who enlisted in the special immigrant program.

“Effective immediately, you will suspend processing of all involuntary separation actions,” read the memo signed July 20 by Marshall Williams, acting assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs.

The disclosure comes a month after the AP reported that dozens of immigrant enlistees were being discharged or had their contracts canceled. Some said they were given no reason; others said the Army told them they’d

been labeled security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defense Department had not completed background checks on them.

In a statement Thursday, Army Lt. Col. Nina L. Hill said they were stopping the discharges to review the administrative separation process.

The Army has reversed one discharge, for Brazilian reservist Lucas Calixto, 28, who had sued. Nonetheless, discharges of other immigrant enlistees continued. Attorneys sought to bring a class action lawsuit last week to offer protections to a broader group of reservists and recruits, demanding that prior discharges be revoked and further separations halted.

Nearly 110,000 members of the armed forces have gained citizenship by serving in the U.S. military since Sept. 11, 2001, according to the Defense Department.