WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The military announced 123 service members, including 25 from Mexico, were sworn in as American citizens last week in Iraq.
The soldiers and Marines were on an accelerated citizenship program enabled by their service in a war zone.
The announcement of the new citizens comes as U.S. President George W. Bush prepares to address the nation Monday on his plans to crack down on border security, especially along the border with Mexico.
His plan includes sending several thousand National Guardsman to relieve border patrol officers of their office duties, so they can increase the number of security patrols along the border. National Guard and active duty troops already support border patrols with surveillance and reconnaissance. The measure will allow the border patrol time and support to recruit and train more civilian officers.
The military's 123 newest citizens - aged from 18 to 57 -- were sworn in May 12 at Logistic Supply Area Anaconda, a massive U.S. military base in Balad, Iraq.
In addition to the 25 Mexicans sworn in, eight were from Jamaica and seven were from the Philippines. The service members represent 52 nations.
Bush signed an executive order in 2002 expediting citizenship for active duty service members serving honorably from Sept, 11, 2001 to a date to be determined.
Legal U.S. residents may join the military, but normally have to wait at least a year before applying for citizenship. The executive order does not require proof of residencey before applying for naturalization.
The government can revoke citizenship if the service members are forced out of the miltiary under other-than-honorable conditions. Former President Bill Clinton used this same authority to expedite the naturalization of service members who served on active duty during the Persian Gulf War.
