Bipartisan Salazar bill recognizes military service of noncitizen veterans

U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) on July 12 signed on as an original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill that would provide benefits for noncitizen members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

“All members of our Armed Forces deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” Rep. Salazar said. “Noncitizen veterans, just like their American peers, make the ultimate sacrifice in service of the United States.”

The Veteran Service Recognition Act, H.R. 4569, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and seven original cosponsors, including Rep. Salazar, would allow noncitizen service members to apply for naturalization during basic training and establish a review process for those who are in removal proceedings, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

If enacted, H.R. 4569 also would provide an opportunity for noncitizen veterans who have been removed or ordered to be removed and who have not been convicted of serious crimes to obtain legal permanent resident status, the summary says.

“I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Congressman Takano, which would streamline the naturalization process for noncitizen veterans and would provide due process for noncitizen veterans who were wrongfully deported,” said Rep. Salazar.

The American Legion, UnidosUs, VoteVets, the Union Veterans Council, the AFL-CIO, Black Deported Veterans of America, the ACLU, and others endorsed the bill.

“I have been fighting to prevent noncitizen veterans from falling through the cracks of our broken immigration system for years because it is shameful that they are being exiled from the same country they risked their lives to protect and defend,” said Rep. Takano, who added that the bill is “a critical step to ensuring that our men and women in uniform are honored for their bravery, heroism, and service, no matter where they were born.”