Election Results: Passed
Approve: 89
Disapprove: 1
Abstain: 4
Note: if passed by the membership, this resolution will reaffirm and update a previous Deported Veterans Resolution approved in December 2016. Updated text in bold print.
Resolution on amending 8 U. S. Code 1101 (a)(22) to clearly state that U.S. Military Service Members are noncitizen nationals and to petition the President and the Department of Homeland Security to stay the removal from the United States of America of all Foreign Nationals who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States; to lobby all members of Congress state by state district by district to honor their sacrifices and to amend United States Code to provide all alien servicemembers the equivalent status of a noncitizen nationals.
Whereas, United States Service members are being and have been deported after serving in the U. S. Military from the United States; and
Whereas, the current 8 U. S. Code 1101 (a)(22) provides: that the term “national of the United States” means:
(A) a Citizen of the United States, or
(B) a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States; and
Whereas, Federal law requires everyone who enlists or re-enlists in the Armed Forces of the United States to take the Oath of Enlistment. This Oath and the Oath of Citizenship contain the identical pledge of loyalty; “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same"; Both Oaths are performed in front of the United States Flag and other flags, such as the state flag, or military branch flag.
As Veterans who have served our nation in every war from WWII to Afghanistan and Iraq, we strongly believe the Oath of Enlistment is a permanent oath of allegiance to the United States of America. While mere subjective emotional allegiance to the United States and length of residence in the United States is insufficient to make an individual a non-citizen national, raising your right hand, swearing this oath, putting on the uniform in times of both war and peace in fact are a permanent allegiance to the United States and that the United States owes a permanent allegiance to all veterans be they U. S. Citizens or Foreign Nationals.
Therefore Be It Resolved that the membership, officers and Board of Directors of Veterans For Peace call upon the U. S. House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate to Amend 8 U. S. Code 1101 (a)(22) to clearly state: “(C) The following shall be nationals, but not automatically citizens, of the United States:
(1) A person, who by conscription or enlistment, entered any branch of the United States armed forces upon completion of Basic Training. This shall be retroactive to all service persons previously removed.”
Be It Further Resolved that the Veterans For Peace membership, officers and Board of Directors of Directors call upon the President and the Department of Homeland Security to immediately stay their removal from the United States.
Submitted by:
Veterans For Peace National Deported Veterans Project