Speech #890216114

Mr. President. I introduce. for appropriate reference. for myself and the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts . a bill to amend section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This legislation would facilitate the naturalization of certain aliens or noncitizen nationals who have served honorably in the armed services of the United States during the Vietnam hostilities. I have carefully considered the most appropriate date which should be specified in the bill as the date on which the Vietnam hostilities may be deemed to have begun. The date February 12. 1955. has been selected because that was when the first American military assistance groupapproximately 800 members of the Special Forceswas sent to Vietnam. As for the closing date. I have left this open and flexible and propose that this be left to the discretion of the President in view of the uncertainty of the present situation in Vietnam. To qualify for naturalization under my bill. an alien or noncitizen national GI must have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States in an active duty status. and have been honorably separated. In addition. my proposal incorporates the two alternative conditions precedent already spelled out in section 329(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act--8 United States Code 1440that is. first at the time of enlistment or induction the serviceman "shall have been in the United States. the Canal Zone. American Samoa. or Swains Island. whether or not he has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence." or. second. at any time subsequent to enlistment or induction the serviceman "shall have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence." Under that same provision. no person who was a conscientious objector. who refused to wear the uniform. or who was separated from the military service on account of alienage. may be regarded as having "served honorably" or having been separated "under honorable conditions." These requirements are retained in my proposal. This legislation also leaves intact all other basic requirements for citizenship enumerated under chapter 2 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. such as the requirement of good moral character. allegiance to the principles of the Constitution. and the understanding of the English language. Finally. this bill would leave unaffected an alternative procedure for the naturalization of alien GIs provided for under section 328 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 328 allows aliens who serve honorably in the Armed Forces for an aggregate period of 3 years following lawful admission for permanent residence to apply for naturalization. Mr. President. section 4(a) of the Universal Military Training and Service Act (50 app.