The hostilities in Vietnam are no less brutal and no less demanding than any previous conflict. Although I support. and have cosponsored. this legislation under consideration. I strongly feel that the limitations as to eligibility are not only unfair. but violate a longstanding tradition by restricting the expeditious naturalization benefits to those aliens who have served in areas involved in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force. This represents a departure from the long legislative history which has made service during prescribed periods the sole criteria for eligibility without regard to the areas in which the services may have been performed. On January 18. 1967. I introduced H.R. 2903. which would have provided expeditious naturalization benefits to any alien serving in the U.S. Armed Forces after Fdbruary 28. 1961. This approach is to me the fairest and most reasonable. However. when it became evident that there would be difficulty in getting this approach approved. I joined in cosponsoring H.R. 15147 now under consideration. I feel that legislation offering expeditious naturalization to aliens in the Armed Forces is extremely important and must be enacted even if my initial approach must be compromised. In my opinion. any amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act of this nature should not contain any geographical limitations as to eligibility. but should apply equally to all noncitizens who have faithfully served or are serving in an active duty status during the period approved by Congress. A person in the military forces Is certainly a mobile person and as such can be dispatched from one corner of the world to meet acts of aggression in another. Some of our military units have been developed for such purpose.
Keywords matched
naturalization Immigration noncitizens