Service in the US Army can now protect you and your relatives from deportation: how can an immigrant become an American soldier

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service on June 7 announced a policy to account for military service in the United States of illegal immigrants or their family members when considering whether they should be deported from the country, reports FoxNews.

Photo: Shutterstock

The policy formalizes a directive issued last month and directs officials to consider any service in the U.S. military by an immigrant or immediate family member before taking coercive action, such as deportation.

The military service includes the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard, including their reserve components.

On the subject: Americans do not take liars and losers: 5 reasons why you may be denied naturalization

official policy

The guidance states that agents should not initiate deportation of those who qualify for citizenship in connection with their service, or take deportation action on those who are currently serving. It also directs employees to ask immigrants at job interviews if they are serving or have served, or if members of their families are serving in the armed forces.

This does not preclude the deportation of immigrants if they serve or have served in the military, but the guidance states that service is "a significant mitigating factor that discourages enforcement action."

Military service has long been recognized by ICE as a potential factor in considering potential immigration enforcement, but the directive formalizes it as agency policy.

“ICE values ​​the incredible contributions of non-citizens who have served in the U.S. military,” Acting ICE Director Tae Johnson said in a statement. “Under this directive, ICE will consider military service in the United States by a noncitizen or immediate family member when determining whether to make civil immigration enforcement decisions against the noncitizen.”

The Biden administration limits the ability of ICE agents and officers to enforce immigration laws. Last year, ICE referrals focused on three main categories of illegal immigrants: recent border crossings, national security threats, and public safety threats.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has also limited the areas in which ICE can operate by prohibiting ICE from conducting law enforcement operations in churches, schools, hospitals, and other places deemed sensitive.

Under the new policy, the number of deportations dropped sharply under the Biden administration. In FY2021, ICE deported 59 people, compared to 011 in FY185 and 884 in FY2020.

How to join the US military if you are not a US citizen

You don't have to be a US citizen to serve in the military, but you must live here. You cannot join the military from another country - you must become a permanent resident of the United States, also known as a green card holder. Chron.

The green card itself does not allow you to serve in the US military. You must reside in the US and be fluent in speaking, reading and writing English. You must also meet the same requirements that all army recruits face. Detailed information can be viewed here.

U.S. Service Entry Requirements

In addition to the mandatory status of a permanent resident of the United States, you must meet the following requirements:

• Ability to read, speak and write fluently in English.
• Ages 17-34 (17-year-olds must have parental permission).
• Excellent health. There are no special tests for selection, but you can rely on AR 40-501 (in English) when preparing and evaluating your own strengths and capabilities.
• A high school diploma (a GED certificate may suffice).
• Passed the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test to help you determine which career path might be right for you.

GED (General Educational Development) - a test for knowledge of the high school program. It is an alternative to the American high school diploma, reports Meetusa.

Restrictions for non-citizens

If you are joining the US Army as a non-citizen, enlisting in the military may speed up your path to full citizenship. Until you become a citizen, your military career is limited. Only US citizens can become officers and go up in rank.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

You cannot re-enlist in the military, gain security clearance, or qualify to work abroad, except as a citizen. If you want to become an American citizen, military service exempts you from certain requirements: for example, you do not need to be physically in the US if you are abroad.

Where to start?

First of all, you need to decide on the direction of the service that interests you and contact the recruiter:

• US Air Force, Air Force (US Air Force - USAF)
• US Army (US Army - USA)
• Coast Guard (US Coast Guard - USCG)
• Marine Corps (US Marine Corps - USMC)
• US Navy (USN)

Next, you need to visit the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station), that is, the reception point. Here, the whole day is allotted for passing the above tests, a medical commission, meetings with a military adviser, etc. If all the steps are completed successfully, then you take the oath.

In a few weeks you will receive an order to start training. If you are on the Deferral Program list, you will not receive your order until one year later.

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