“I pledge Allegiance… ” Celebrating uniformed service and citizenship

By Amy Forsythe

Since the Revolutionary War, legal permanent residents are eligible to enlist in the military. There are approximately 35,000 non-citizens serving on activeduty and about 8,000 who join each year.

As a country founded by immigrants hundreds of years ago, thousands flock to the U.S. today seeking political freedom and the opportunity to achieve their goals.

America remains a land of opportunities, and because many foreigners from all over the world come to live in the U.S., cultural diversity is cited as one of the country's strengths.

The dream of being a U.S. citizen is expedited for military members and at no-cost.

Military members like Claudia LaManita, who served as a U.S. Marine from 1987 to 2007 and retired as a gunnery sergeant (E-7)—became a naturalized citizen while serving on active duty. LaMantia was born in Guatemala and was brought to the U.S. by her father in 1975. Her dad was studying at Tulane University under a medical visa and returned to Guatemala to get her and two other siblings to flee from the civil war and unrest there.

Claudia LaMantia, born in Guatemala, was brought to the U.S. by her father as a young girl in 1975. She enlisted in the Marines in 1987 and obtained her U.S. citizenship in 1994. “I feel extremely blessed and lucky to have served in the U.S. military and to have been allowed to become a citizen just puts me over the top.” Courtesy Photo.

They traveled through Mexico City, then Mazatlán, and eventually crossed the border at Tijuana, near San Diego, before making their way to Los Angeles where LaMantia and her siblings lived with their grandmother and other family members through her teenage years.

When President Reagan came into office, many programs were cut and her father lost his visa and they stayed in the U.S. illegally.

“My father, step-mother, sister and myself all got jobs at McDonalds and that’s how we got through high school years. I got my green card when I married my first husband. ”

Claudia LaMantia, born in Guatemala, was brought to the U.S. by her father as a young girl in 1975. She enlisted in the Marines in 1987 and obtained her U.S. citizenship in 1994. “I feel extremely blessed and lucky to have served in the U.S. military and to have been allowed to become a citizen just puts me over the top.” Courtesy Photo.

She applied several times for citizenship while on active duty but kept getting deployed which caused delays in her application. LaMantia’s final application went through and she became a citizen in a ceremony in San Diego on Oct. 21, 1994.

There was a group of ladies from the Daughters of the Revolution who had small American Flags and gave us each one as they said, “Welcome to America…It was an emotional and memorable day for me. ”

Becoming naturalized opened many more opportunities in the Marine Corps because it allowed LaMantia to obtain a clearance. “Without that I would not have been able to make a transfer into Public Affairs and continue to get promoted, ” said LaManita.

“The biggest transformation is the pride of having the privilege of being a bona fide American and being able to vote. There’s a prestige attached that sometimes is recognized by things like, obtaining a clearance or when you ’ re in a foreign country and people ask you where you are from, ” she added. “I feel extremely blessed and lucky to have served in the U.S. military and to have been allowed to become a citizen just puts me over the top. ”

LaMantia is a federal employee and currently serves as a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army ’s Public Health Command for the Pacific in Hawaii. To be eligible for naturalization, you must be a person of good moral character, which CIS will evaluate. The law requires applicants to demonstrate an understanding of the English language, including the ability to read, write, and speak simple words and phrases in the ordinary usage of the English language. Applicants must show that they have a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, principles, and form of government of the United States.

Requirements for U.S. Citizenship:

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities:

There are several rights and responsibilities that natural-born American citizens may not be aware of. Some of these responsibilities are legally required of every citizen, but all are important to ensuring that America remains a free and prosperous nation.

Rights

Freedom to express yourself. Freedom to worship as you wish. Right to a prompt, fair trial by jury. Right to vote in elections for public officials. Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship. Right to run for elected office. Freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. ”

Support and defend the Constitution. Stay informed of the issues affecting your community. Participate in the democratic process. Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws. Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others. Participate in your local community. Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities. Serve on a jury when called upon. Defend the country if the need should arise.

According to military research, once non-citizens have joined the military, they are far more likely to complete their enlistment obligations successfully than their U.S. -born counterparts.

Veterans are also eligible for expedited citizenship which can help with jobs, benefits and more.

We celebrate the patriotism of immigrants who chose to serve and seek the path to citizenship through military service. Their service to this nation is a testament to their commitment and desire to be a part of the fabric of this nation.

Claudia LaMantia served for 20 years in the U.S. Marines in places like Japan, California, Hawaii and deployed to the Philippines, Kuwait and Iraq and retired at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, April 15, 2007. Courtesy Photo

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Today, in America there are over 2M living Women Veterans who long for community, visibility and connection.

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