The U.S. military needs immigrants, so don’t shut them out
As Americans continue to face the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of immigrants to our nation has become clearer by the day: Immigrants are the doctors and nurses keeping us healthy, the scientists searching for a vaccine, the farmers and production workers making sure we get fed. Some immigrants have sacrificed their lives in their occupations for the well-being of our country.
Less talked about, though equally important, is immigrants’ role in protecting our safety as members of the U.S. military. Unfortunately, President Donald Trump’s administration has quietly found ways to discourage immigrants who are willing to put their lives on the line.
That’s ultimately bad for American security. Now, more than ever, the U.S. military must find ways to attract, not deter, immigrants.
Recently, a federal court overturned a Department of Defense rule that significantly extended the amount of time an immigrant in the military had to serve before becoming eligible for an expedited path to citizenship.
Until 2017, military service members could obtain a Certificate of Honorable Service, or N-426 – the essential requirement in the military naturalization process – after one day of service. Yet, under the Trump administration, the Department of Defense significantly extended the time needed to serve, establishing that active duty members must serve at least 180 days and selected reserve members at least one year before becoming eligible for the certificate.
That extension represented an illogical expansion of the wait time, and the effects were immediately clear. In the year that followed the change, the DOD saw a 72 percent decrease in military naturalization applications, according to the Government Accountability Office. The plummeting number of applications reflected a direct violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act’s intent to establish an expedited naturalization process for immigrant service members.
It’s good news that the rule has been overturned for now – but the battle isn’t over. The Trump administration is likely to appeal the recent court decision and ask that the new policy of extended naturalization wait period be reinstated.
Americans must therefore remember why immigrants are so valuable to our military.
Immigrants have been serving in the U.S. armed forces since the Revolutionary War and make up more than 20 percent of Medal of Honor recipients.
Crucially, immigrants also have lower attrition rates than other recruits and are less likely to leave early in their service. They also contribute skills critically needed by our armed forces by way of language diversity and cultural competencies.
And right now, as our military faces significant recruitment challenges: Last year, the incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the Army fell more than 6,500 recruits short.
COVID-19 has even further exacerbated those challenges as recruiting stations close their doors and more Americans prioritize their own financial and health care concerns. Maj. Gen. James Bierman, commander of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, told the Associated Press in an April story he’s reached just 40 percent of his 37,000-recruit goal this year.
Meanwhile, immigrants represent an important way for the military to reach its goals: They make up 17 percent of the civilian workforce, and that number would continue to grow with an aging U.S. population. It would make sense that immigrants be similarly represented in the military — but currently, immigrants make up less than 5 percent of the armed forces.
There is a need in our military for immigrants who are ready to sign up. And if those immigrants are willing to risk their lives for our country, why would we obstruct them from naturalizing?
Making it easier for immigrants who serve to obtain citizenship is a good policy. It’s time to recognize the contributions of immigrants in our military and to encourage, not discourage, them from joining the ranks.
Larry Romo of San Antonio is the national commander of the American GI Forum of the U.S., an Air Force veteran and former director of the U.S. Selective Service System.