Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 7 July 2018
APNewsBreak: U.S. Army quietly discharging immigrant recruits

By MARTHA MENDOZA and cently discharged service the background check re- couldn't move fast enough "It's terrible because I put
GARANCE BURKE members have had their quirement. to wipe them away," he my life in the line for this
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — basic training delayed, so "It's a vicious cycle," she said. "I was devastated, country, but I feel like I'm
Some immigrant U.S. Army they can't be naturalized. said. because I love the U.S. and being treated like trash," he
reservists and recruits who Margaret Stock, an Alas- The AP interviewed Calixto was so honored to be able said. "If I am not eligible to
enlisted in the military with ka-based immigration at- and recruits from Pakistan to serve this great country." become a U.S. citizen, I am
a promised path to citizen- torney and a retired Army and Iran, all of whom said He asked that his name be really scared to return to
ship are being abruptly dis- Reserve lieutenant colonel they were devastated by withheld because he fears my country."
charged, the Associated who helped create the im- their unexpected discharg- he might be forced to re- He spoke on condition of
Press has learned. migrant recruitment pro- es. turn to Pakistan, where he anonymity because of
The AP was unable to those fears.
quantify how many men It's unclear how the service
and women who enlisted members' discharges could
through the special recruit- affect their status as legal
ment program have been immigrants.
booted from the Army, but In a statement, the De-
immigration attorneys say fense Department said:
they know of more than "All service members (i.e.
40 who have been dis- contracted recruits, active
charged or whose status duty, Guard and Reserve)
has become questionable, and those with an honor-
jeopardizing their futures. able discharge are pro-
"It was my dream to serve tected from deportation."
in the military," said reserv- However, immigration at-
ist Lucas Calixto, a Brazilian torneys told the AP that
immigrant who filed a law- many immigrants let go in
suit against the Army last recent weeks were an "un-
week. "Since this country characterized discharge,"
has been so good to me, neither dishonorable nor
I thought it was the least I honorable.
could do to give back to The service members af-
my adopted country and fected by the recent dis-
serve in the United States charges all enlisted in re-
military." cent years under a special
Some of the service mem- In this Tuesday, July 3, 2018, photo, a Pakistani recruit, 22, who was recently discharged from the program aimed at bringing
bers say they were not U.S. Army, holds an American flag as he poses for a picture. medical specialists and flu-
told why they were being Associated Press ent speakers of 44 sought-
discharged. Others who after languages into the
pressed for answers said the gram, said she's been inun- "Now the great feeling I could face danger as a for- military. The idea, accord-
Army informed them they'd dated over the past several had when I enlisted is going mer U.S. Army enlistee. ing to the Defense Depart-
been labeled as security days by recruits who have down the drain," said Ca- Portions of the 22-year-old's ment, was to "recognize
risks because they have rel- been abruptly discharged. lixto, 28. "I don't understand military file reviewed by the their contribution and sac-
atives abroad or because All had signed enlistment why this is happening." AP said he was so deeply rifice." President George W.
the Defense Department contracts and taken an In hopes of undoing the dis- loyal to the U.S. that his Bush ordered "expedited
had not completed back- Army oath, Stock said. charge, he filed a lawsuit relationships with his fam- naturalization" for immi-
ground checks on them. Many were reservists who in Washington, D.C., last ily and fiancee in Pakistan grant soldiers in 2002 in an
Spokespeople for the Pen- had been attending unit week alleging the Defense would not make him a se- effort to swell military ranks.
tagon and the Army said drills, receiving pay and Department hadn't given curity threat. Nonetheless, Seven years later the Mili-
that, due to the pending undergoing training, while him a chance to defend the documents show the tary Accessions Vital to the
litigation, they were unable others had been in a "de- himself or appeal. He said Army cited those foreign National Interest program,
to explain the discharges or layed entry" program, she he was given no specific ties as a concern. known as MAVNI, became
respond to questions about said. grounds other than "per- The man had enlisted in an official recruiting pro-
whether there have been "Immigrants have been sonnel security." April 2016 anticipating he'd gram. It came under fire
policy changes in any of serving in the Army since Calixto, who lives in Mas- be a citizen within months, from conservatives when
the military branches. 1775," Stock said. "We sachusetts and came to but faced a series of de- President Barack Obama
Eligible recruits are required wouldn't have won the rev- the U.S. when he was 12, lays. He had been slated to added DACA recipients
to have legal status in the olution without immigrants. said in an email interview ship out to basic training in — young immigrants who
U.S., such as a student visa, And we're not going to win arranged through his at- January 2017, but that also were brought to the U.S.
before enlisting. More than the global war on terrorism torney that he joined the was delayed. illegally — to the list of eli-
5,000 immigrants were re- today without immigrants." Army out of patriotism. An Iranian citizen who gible enlistees. In response,
cruited into the program Stock said the service In the suit, Calixto said came to the U.S. for a grad- the military layered on ad-
in 2016, and an estimated members she's heard from he learned he was being uate degree in engineering ditional security clearances
10,000 are currently serv- had been told the Defense kicked out soon after he told the AP that he enlisted for recruits to pass before
ing. Most go the Army, but Department had not man- was promoted to private in the program hoping to heading to boot camp.
some also go to the other aged to put them through second class. gain medical training. He The Trump Administration
military branches. extensive background The Pakistani service mem- said he had felt proud that added even more hurdles,
To become citizens, the checks, which include ber who spoke to the AP he was "pursuing every- creating a backlog within
service members need an CIA, FBI and National Intel- said he learned in a phone thing legally and living an the Defense Department.
honorable service desig- ligence Agency screenings call a few weeks ago that honorable life." Last fall, hundreds of re-
nation, which can come and counterintelligence his military career was over. In recent weeks, he said, he cruits still in the enlistment
after even just a few days interviews. Therefore, by "There were so many tears learned that he'd been dis- process had their contracts
at boot camp. But the re- default, they do not meet in my eyes that my hands charged. canceled.q