They Were Recruited Into The Military, But Non-Citizen Troops Now Face An Uncertain Future

From 2009 to 2016, the Defense Department recruited more than 10,000 non-citizens into the armed forces. Now critics are pushing to dismantle the program.

By Carson FrameJuly 26, 2018 10:11 am, , , ,

From Texas Public Radio:

In the era after 9/11, the military and intelligence communities came up with a program to address the lack of personnel with foreign language skills and other critical expertise.

The recruited non-citizens into the armed forces, with the promise that those who served honorably could earn U.S. citizenship on an expedited basis. The program, called Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), eventually attracted more than 10,000 non-citizens into the military.

But over the last few months, advocates say at least 40 have been discharged – many without explanation or written notice.

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