The foster mother of US serviceman Jose Gutierrez is one of those family members that question the value of US citizenship. Gutierrez emigrated from Guatemala to the United States with the aspiration of becoming an architect. But, the hopes and dreams of making it happen were cut short.
Gutierrez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was deployed out to Iraq. In Iraq, Gutierrez was killed in friendly fire in Umm Qasr. After his death, he was given honors. He was also awarded US citizenship.
However, Nora Mosquera, the foster mother of Gutierrez wonders why her son had to die to truly belong in the United States.
“There is something terribly wrong with our immigration policies if it takes death on the battlefield in order to earn citizenship,” said Cardinal Roger Mahony who had oversaw the funeral service of Gutierrez.
“They should not have to wait until they are brought home in a casket,” he adds.
However, many families such as that of Gutierrez too question the value of US citizenship.
Fredelinda Pena, the fiancé of Corporal Juan Alcantara felt the same way. “What use is a piece of paper?” she asked. Pena broke into tears at Alcantara’s naturalization ceremony. Alcantara also left behind an infant daughter.
So far, these immigrant soldiers have been given the nickname of “Green card soldiers.”
A little over 100 immigrant soldiers were given US citizenship after death. Some parents question themselves about bringing their children to the United States. Many have become distraught as a result.
In short, many have developed mixed feelings about this notion. Both liberal and conservative groups have mixed feelings for their own different reasons.
Those that advocate immigrants talk about how recruiters target schools with large numbers of Latinos in the student body with the promises of US citizenship.
Conservative groups such as the Center for Immigration Studies present the argument that non-citizens should not be permitted to serve in the military let alone fight in wars. The basis for that argument brought forth by this organization is that it us unknown if they are loyal to the US or not.
Whether the group is liberal or conservative and for whatever reasons, they all seem to have mixed feelings about this concept.
While family members of those immigrant soldiers that died could apply for US citizen, many do not feel the desire to apply. One such person is Saveria Romeo from Italy. Her son died in Iraq. The thought of benefiting from her son’s death was unbearable.
This presents an interesting predicament.
While these fallen soldiers get awarded US citizenship, it looks as many of their family members see it as a benefit that carries little to no weight.
As immigration plans to be one of the biggest issues in the US presidential races, this aspect may give it plenty of weight.
The Iraq War is well on the start of its sixth year. According to a recent CBS poll, a majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the war in Iraq.
Iraq’s reconstruction is going slow. The Pentagon reports that the biggest problem that hurts the reconstruction is corruption.
Recently, two US senators have requested a congressional inquiry into Iraq’s oil revenues to see if the country can pay for the rest of its own reconstruction. They state that while Iraq has plenty of money in banks across the world, it has done little for the reconstruction.
So far, US taxpayers have been paying for the war and the reconstruction.
According to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz, the cost of Iraq is at least $12 billion a month.
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