IMMIGRATION LAWYER - US CITIZENSHIP

Many Origins but One Pledge: To Protect and Serve the City - New York Times

Link: Many Origins but One Pledge: To Protect and Serve the City - New York Times.

Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Australia.

That’s where the latest crop of New York City police officers comes from.

Also Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize and Bosnia, along with some 50 other countries.

The 1,359 police cadets who graduated in yesterday’s ceremony at Madison Square Garden included 284 immigrants, who hailed from a record number of 58 nations , including Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador and Egypt, police officials said.

...Several of the officers became citizens only a few months before entering the police academy, like Phat It, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his family fled Cambodia.

“Whether you trace your heritage to Pakistan or Parkchester, to the Dominican Republic or Ditmas Park, you all love our country and you all love our city,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg told the graduates.

The department is growing more diverse by other measures, too. About 28 percent of the new officers are Hispanic, 17 percent are black, and 8 percent are Asian, the police said. About 18 percent are women.

A U.S. military 'at its breaking point' considers foreign recruits - International Herald Tribune

Link: A U.S. military 'at its breaking point' considers foreign recruits - Americas - International Herald Tribune.

The armed forces, already struggling to meet recruiting goals, are considering expanding the number of noncitizens in the ranks, including disputed proposals to open recruiting stations overseas and put more immigrants on a faster track to U.S. citizenship if they volunteer, according to Pentagon officials.

Foreign citizens' serving in the U.S. military is a highly charged issue, which could expose the Pentagon to criticism that it is essentially using mercenaries to defend the country. Other analysts voice concern that a large contingent of noncitizens under arms could jeopardize national security or reflect badly on Americans' willingness to serve in uniform.

MiamiHerald.com | Haitian who lost U.S. citizenship is released

Link: MiamiHerald.com | 12/22/2006 | Haitian who lost U.S. citizenship is released.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement moved to revoke his citizenship in 2000, not because of the conviction but because the conviction occurred while he was awaiting citizenship, when he was required to be a person of ``good moral character.''

After losing several lengthy appellate court battles, Jean-Baptiste was sent to Krome in June.

The case marked the first time since 1962 that a denaturalized citizen was ordered deported after a drug conviction. In that case, an Italian-American was stripped of citizenship and deported."

Proposed Revised Content for English, U.S. History and Government Test for Naturalization Applicants

Link: E6-21548.pdf (application/pdf Object).

"This notice announces that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be conducting a pilot of a redesigned naturalization test. Applicants for naturalization must, among other things, demonstrate an understanding of the English language, a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and the principles and form of government in the United States."