FOUR FILIPINO SERVICE MEN BECOME US CITIZENS AT NELLIS AIR FORCE CEREMONY
Asianjournal
Thursday, 09 July 2009 04:38
At the naturalization ceremonies last July 4th, USCIS District Director
John Kramer told the new American citizens to seek civilian positions
at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). USCIS is an agency
under the DHS.
"On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, when you’re done
serving (the US Armed Forces), you are invited to join the department,"
he said.
For her part, NV Congresswoman Dina Titus thanked the eleven new
American citizens for their service to the country.
"The sacrifices that you make are things that make it possible for
this country to survive and grow and prosper," she said.
"We are all indebted to you for your service. Thank you very much
for allowing our families to continue to be free," she added.
President Obama, in a taped message from Washington DC , told the
eleven service men, "It is an honor and a privilege to call u a fellow
citizen of the United States of America ."
"This is now officially your country your home to protect, to defend
and to serve through active and engaged citizenship," he added.
US District Court Judge Lloyd George, who administered the oath to
the eleven service men, said he is delighted to have the privilege
to participate in the ceremony.
"Today we celebrate your declaration of loyalty, commitment and common
good as the newest citizens of the US just as we celebrate the 233rd
anniversary of the declaration of independence -the longest surviving
democracy on earth," he said.
( ) ( Published on July 9, 2009 in Asian Journal
Las Vegas p.A1 )
Eleven members of the US Armed Forces became naturalized American
citizens at the 233rd celebration of US Independence at Nellis Air
Force Base, Las Vegas.
Las Vegas-Four service men became American citizens during the United
Independence Day celebration at Nellis Air Force Base last Saturday,
July 4th. USArmy officers Ryan Reyes Santos and Armand Torres Velasquez
along with Air Force Reserve Paul Francis Valdez and Navy Reserve Marc
Ronquillo became naturalized Americans during the annual Freedom Fest
celebration at the air force base. These four officers were part of
a group of eleven service men from six countries who fulfilled the
requirements set by the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS).
Three other service men from Mexico were naturalized during the
ceremony. Along with them were officers from Armenia , Cameroon ,
Colombia , and South Korea . These service men were members of the
US Army, US Air Force and the US Coast Guard.
The USCIS requires all candidates for naturalization to have good
moral character, an ability to read write and speak English, an
understanding of US history and government, and an attachment to the
principles of the US constitution.
It also requires candidates to prove residency as well as physical
presence in a particular USCIS District prior to filing of
naturalization application.
But some of these requirements are either reduced or completely waived
for members of the US armed forces who apply for naturalization.
For one, they are not required to pay a fee for their
application. While they need to have served the Armed forces honorably
for at least one year, they do not need to demonstrate residence or
physical presence in the United States .
In addition, service men’s spouses and children are also allowed to
naturalize even without traveling to the United States .