Immigrants in the Armed Forces
In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day and, in 1938, an act was passed to make November 11 the legal holiday for it. After World War II, the act was amended, and "Armistice" became "Veterans" to honor American veterans of all wars.
The important purpose of Veterans Day is to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice. It goes without saying that immigrants have supported our country with their service, too, through centuries. Immigrants made up 18% of draftees during World War I, which was a time of peak migration to the U.S., and there were 300,000 foreign born members of the US military that served during World War II.
What Military Service Means to Immigrants
For Cuban-born Army Major José Enriquez, a trainer with the Fort Leavenworth-based Mission Command Training Program, service in the military was a way to repay all that his family and he got when they arrived from Cuba as asylum seekers in 1980.
“I serve not only because I owe a debt to this great nation that can never be repaid, but to also preserve for future generations our founding principles enshrined in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence,” the major told U.S. Army News. Like Major Enriquez, there are about 45,000 immigrants actively serving. Approximately 700,000 foreign-born veterans live in the U.S. today.
These men and women are allowed to serve if they have a green card, and the most recent government estimates report that about 5,000 legal permanent residents enlist annually.
Still, new policies have made it increasingly hard for eligible immigrants to enlist and, later on, become citizens of the U.S. Being unable to naturalize prevents service-members and veterans from accessing critical benefits like drivers’ licenses and puts them at risk of deportation despite their service. Immigration advocates estimate that close to 2,000 veterans have been deported over time.
The Need to Recruit
In a 2006 hearing before the Committee on Armed Services, Senate, 109th Congress, Senator John McCain said that “if we do not provide the same opportunities for future immigrants that were provided for our forefathers, it is an affront to our national ideals. We owe these servicemen more for the sacrifices that they have made for this country.”
Immigrants contribute vastly to our country and will be needed not only to support our workforce but also our armed forces. In 2018, the Army reported it missed its recruiting goal for the first time since 2005, and official military polls show that fewer and fewer young Americans consider the military as a career, only some 12.5% the lowest number in a decade.
As our country faces more population woes, being realistic about the contributions of immigrants will only benefit our communities and industries. Immigrants serve with pride, and often perform the ultimate sacrifice while defending this nation. On Veteran’s Day we honor their importance and continue working towards bridging the financial gaps that keep eligible immigrants from becoming citizens. You can join our mission by donating or investing today.
