America celebrates its veterans around the nation on Veterans Day, honoring those who have served our nation with selflessness and bravery. Included in the millions who have served are immigrants. From the Revolutionary war to current conflicts, immigrants have joined the ranks of our military to fight for and defend America since its inception.
Just as U.S. citizens, immigrants—both legal and undocumented—residing in the United States have answered the call to defend the United States and have gone on to earn the highest honors and ranks the military offers.
Immigrants who have served in the U.S. military and by so doing earned their citizenship include, Alfred Rascon an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who won the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War and later became a U.S. citizen and eventually the Director of the Selective Service System.
Immigrants also have been promoted to the highest ranks of the U.S. military. The most prominent contemporary example is General John Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who came to the United States from Poland shortly after World War II.
Yet many immigrants who are serving today are facing the stress of sorely outdated immigration-system that is putting their families at risk of deportation.
Gov. Brewer promised to do 'what's right for Arizona' with SB1070. Instead, she did only what's right for her upcoming Republican primary. What a wasted opportunity for the governor to show true leadership and courage. Now, our state will suffer as the clock rewinds to the bitter, divisive days of Ev Mecham, when Arizona was seen as a national embarrassment. By signing SB1070, Gov. Brewer has sealed her own legacy of failure.
Jose Medina is an immigrant soldier from Arizona who was recently deployed to serve his country. He carries a green card to live in his home state of Arizona. The attached video is his reaction to Arizona SB1070.
http://www.cnn.com/...
As a native Arizonan, Jose Medina's words brought many tears and a heavy heart. I'm deeply ashamed of Arizona and pray for my family who is indigenous to this state.