Posthumous citizenships include family benefits

  • Published
  • By Donna Miles
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The U.S. government historically has granted posthumous citizenship to non-U.S. citizen servicemembers killed in the line of duty during wartime.

Thanks to a close working relationship between officials at the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security, this process is now on the fast track -- with a goal of presenting an official certificate granting that citizenship at the servicemember's funeral.

And with new provisions in the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, the citizenship is no longer simply honorary. It now includes tangible benefits to the deceased servicemember's spouse, children and parents who hope to gain U.S. citizenship.

Dan Ruiz from the Army's Casualty and Memorial Affairs Operations Center said the new law does not affect the procedures for granting posthumous citizenships for servicemembers first put in place during World War I. Posthumous citizenship is granted at the request of the immediate family.

Currently the deadline for applications for posthumous citizenships is Nov. 2, but officials said they expect it to be extended.

This year's DOD authorization act waives the $80 application fee families previously had to pay. And for the first time, immediate family members who do not have permanent U.S. resident status may now get it based on the deceased servicemember's newly granted citizenship.

So far, six Soldiers, 10 Marines and one Sailor killed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom received posthumous citizenships, said Rick Torres, a posthumous citizenship officer at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' California Service Center.

Among those granted posthumous citizenships was Army Pvt. Rey David Cuervo, a 24-year-old scout with the 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, killed in Baghdad on Dec. 28 when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle.

A native of Tampico, Mexico, Private Cuervo had lived in Texas since he was 6 years old. Friends said he had planned to attain U.S. citizenship after returning from Iraq.

President Bush specifically named Private Cuervo and other non-U.S. citizens killed during the war on terror while visiting U.S. troops and their families at Fort Polk, La., Feb. 17.

"At my direction, each of them has been posthumously granted a title to what they have brought a great honor: citizen of the United States," President Bush told the group.

Mr. Torres, who retired from the Navy before joining U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said he feels honored to play a role in helping the families of those who have died for the United States.

"I deeply believe that their valor and patriotism toward this nation cannot be expressed in mere words," he said. "I see each posthumous citizenship request as another fallen comrade who made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation and left families behind that will grieve through this process."

Mr. Torres said he considers his role in the process a personal calling, to provide "the utmost honorable and compassionate sentiment" as he helps a fallen comrade's family members during the citizenship process. He said the support he supplies is "not only on behalf of the other men and women at the California Service Center dedicated to this process, but also on behalf of all service veterans."

Leslie Lord, the Army's liaison to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said posthumous citizenships for servicemembers killed while serving the United States -- and the extension of those benefits to the families left behind -- demonstrates the depth of the country's appreciation for their sacrifices.

"These people have proven that they are willing to die for the United States," he said. "They've made the ultimate sacrifice, so it's only right that the county grant them the citizenships they have earned and make sure that their families receive benefits as well."