On Monday, the US Army reinstated scores of immigrant reservists who enlisted in the military to get a path to citizenship. It reversed a previous decision that saw the discharge of over a hundred recruits born overseas and resulted in a lawsuit claiming many of the dismissals were made for no reason and were completely unfair.
The move puts the recruits back on the pathway to US citizenship promised by the military in return for vital medical and language skills. Before the recent decision, such soldiers could gain citizenship just months after beginning training, making the process faster than for those not in the military who are seeking naturalization.
The reversal of the decision is the most recent concession following a flurry of court filings claiming that the discharges were a violation of both Army policy and even the due process guaranteed by the US Constitution, with critics alleging that Congress’ handling of the program has exposed serious problems with the way foreign recruits are vetted by the military. In a court filing on Monday, the Army said that six reservists who launched a lawsuit had now had their discharges revoked, along with the halting of the dismissal of 32 reservists, with a total of 149 cases now under review.
Over 10,000 immigrants have become a part of the US military via the program since 2009. In July, the Associated Press reported that dozens of immigrant recruits were being discharged by the Army, resulting in questions over the decision.