Dominicana_1965
25th February 2008, 16:40
Washington, Feb 24 (Prensa Latina) US President George W. Bush has failed to grant the promised citizenship to immigrants enlisted in wars unleashed by the country, The New York Times reported Sunday.
"If what I have done for this country is not enough for me to be a citizen, then I don"t know what is," said former Marine Abdool Habibullah, a Guyanese immigrant who first applied for citizenship in 2005 upon returning from Iraq.
Shortly after the September 11 attacks, Bush signed an executive order allowing non-citizens on active duty to file for citizenship right away, instead of having to first complete three years in the military.
Washington authorities insist the procedure may take up to 18 months and patience is required.
However, nearly 7,200 foreigners discharged from active service have been waiting, some of them for years, the paper noted.
Lawyers specialized in migratory affairs, as well as officials from the sector admit they are constantly receiving complaints over delays in the citizenship process.
In views of claims by those affected, Democrat Sen. for New York Charles Schumer presented an initiative to speed up migratory papers of participants in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan.
http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={A145865E-3E6D-4204-AE7B-8782CB150288}&language=EN
"If what I have done for this country is not enough for me to be a citizen, then I don"t know what is," said former Marine Abdool Habibullah, a Guyanese immigrant who first applied for citizenship in 2005 upon returning from Iraq.
Shortly after the September 11 attacks, Bush signed an executive order allowing non-citizens on active duty to file for citizenship right away, instead of having to first complete three years in the military.
Washington authorities insist the procedure may take up to 18 months and patience is required.
However, nearly 7,200 foreigners discharged from active service have been waiting, some of them for years, the paper noted.
Lawyers specialized in migratory affairs, as well as officials from the sector admit they are constantly receiving complaints over delays in the citizenship process.
In views of claims by those affected, Democrat Sen. for New York Charles Schumer presented an initiative to speed up migratory papers of participants in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan.
http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={A145865E-3E6D-4204-AE7B-8782CB150288}&language=EN