re: "Canada Bans Veil from Citizenship Oath Ceremony"

Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D at The Jawa Report ("Sand people, get it?") reports a common-sense data point from The Great White North.

Money quote(s):

"(B)efore we get the usual "stop all Muslim immigration", let me ask you what we should do with the thousands of Muslims who fought alongside us in Iraq and Afghanistan who's families are threatened in their home countries?

Should we just hang them out to dry? Or might it not be a good idea to help them immigrate to the US, where they might be able to continue to help us?

As one Iraq vet once told me about a Muslim who he helped immigrate to the US, "He risked his life for me. What have you ever done?""

12/12

S&S - New citizens honored to take oath at White House

Stars and Stripes

New citizens honored to take oath at White House

By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes



Pacific edition, Sunday, May 3, 2009

Robin Hoecker / S&S
Representing all branches of the military, 24 servicemembers from 18 countries take the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony at the White House on Friday.

Robin Hoecker / S&S
President Obama delivers the keynote address.

Robin Hoecker / S&S
"You’ve not merely chosen to live in this country. You’ve chosen to serve this country," he said.

Robin Hoecker / S&S
President Obama congratulates the new citizens after the ceremony.

Robin Hoecker / S&S
President Obama presents Peter Lemon with the Outstanding American by Choice award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Lemon, formerly a Canadian citizen, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1971 for his heroic actions in Vietnam.

WASHINGTON — Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeonathan Zapata was excited to finally become an American citizen. But he was even more thrilled when the first person to congratulate him was the commander in chief.

Read the whole article here.

S&S - Seven-year-old at Yokosuka is first child to get citizenship under new rule

Stars and Stripes

Seven-year-old at Yokosuka is first child to get citizenship under new rule


By Erik Slavin, Stars and Stripes

Pacific edition, Monday, March 2, 2009

Erik Slavin / S&S

Martin Ulsano, 7, raises his hand during the oath of citizenship while standing next to his father, Petty Officer 2nd Class Caesar Ulsano, at a ceremony at Yokosuka Naval Base Friday. Ulsano became the first child to receive a certificate of citizenship under a 2008 law designed for family members of overseas servicemembers. In all, 72 Marines, sailors, soldiers and family members celebrated their citizenship Friday.

Erik Slavin / S&S
Martin Ulsano poses with servicemembers and spouses who received their certificates of naturalization. Also in the group is U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires James P. Zumwalt.

Erik Slavin / S&S
Martin Ulsano stands with U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires James P. Zumwalt, who's about to cut a cake honoring the new citizens.

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The most noticeable of the 72 people with hands raised for the U.S. oath of citizenship Friday stood barely higher than the pews Friday at Yokosuka’s Chapel of Hope.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Martin Miles Ulsano, 7, became the first child to take the oath since the 2008 Defense Authorization Act allowed family members of servicemembers to become citizens overseas, according to officials."