Local veterans react to policy affecting kids born overseas to U.S. military personnel

Some local veterans don’t agree with the government’s new immigration and citizenship policy which might affect military personnel and their families overseas.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Ramiro Castillo said, “They’re making children of our soldiers who are up at the front lines, who are serving abroad undocumented aliens.”

The new policy states that some children born to U.S. service members serving overseas will no longer receive automatic U.S. citizenship, as they did previously. Now those parents might have to apply for their kids’ citizenship before they turn 18 and go through the immigration process.

U.S. Army veteran Barry Ries said, ” It’s definitely unfair. And the question I have is how much of unfairness are these service members going to be expected to endure. ”

U.S. Army veteran Carlos Leos said, ” It is very disrespectful. I mean, i feel it’s disrespectful and it’s just not right. ”

They said it’ll affect troop morale and recruitment.

” They’re going to have to think twice knowing that if they serve and then have a family while they’re serving their country, it’s going to be in their minds. It’s going to be a burden, an uncalled-for burden, ” Castillo said.

They want the community at large to share their concerns with state officials.

” I just hope they visit, they call the congressmen, the senators and let them know that what is going on with this new policy has no basis. It’s unpatriotic. I don’t have the words. I’m outraged, ” Castillo said.

The policy becomes effective at the end of October.

Below is a link to the complete policy document.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/policymanual/updates/20190828-ResidenceForCitizenship.pdf