Mr. Sanft. who received an honorable discharge as a corporal in November. was awarded the Purple Heart after being seriously wounded when an enemy mine explosion sprayed shrapnel into his body. hospitalizing him for 6 weeks. The story of Ramon Sanft will. in all likelihood. have a happy ending. as I have been informed that he has just been granted a suspension of the deportation order. However. the danger that he will later be deported to Tonga will continue to exist until Mr. Sanft is actually granted citizenship. If this possibility becomes reality. I will introduce a private bill to head off his deportation. But what about the other Ramon Sanfts who are currently fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam and who will return to America to face the same plight? During World War II a provision was enacted to provide swift naturalization to any alien or noncitizen national who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces. Now that we are engaged in another major foreign war. justice demands that this provision be enacted again. The distinguished Senator from Hawaii introduced during the first session of the 90th Congress a bill. S. 1284. which would provide for the granting of citizenship in these cases. The bill is still pending in the Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization. Because of the urgency of this matter to our noncitizen soldiers who have returned or will be returning from duty in Vietnam. it is my fervent hope that action will be taken on this vital legislation at the earliest possible time.
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Immigration noncitizen Naturalization naturalization deported deportation