A special recruitment program by the U.S. Army promising legal immigrants a path to citizenship turns out to be a pipe dream.
The program offers naturalization with an honorable service designation that can be given after a few days of boot camp. Enlistment contracts were signed, and the Army oath taken. Now, Army reservist are being discharged or not sent to boot camp. Those legally in the United States might be deported when their VISA expires.
In 2002, President George W. Bush expedited the naturalization process for immigrant soldiers. In 2007, the program known as MAVNI (Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest) became an official recruiting program. President Barack Obama added DACA recipients to the eligibility list. That is when an official introduced extensive background checks, creating a severe backlog.
Paul Chelimo, a Kenyan-born American athlete who won Silver in the 5,000 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics, secured…
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