You work for us, We will give you US Citizenship

Servicemembers from throughout Iraq met at the Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory April 12 in which 259 troops became U.S citizens during the largest overseas U.S. naturalization ceremony in history.

259 Iraqis who have joined the American military and served in Combat beside Americans have been granted American citizenship.

They have proven their loyalty to the United States by putting their lives on the line in Combat...and proven themselves to their combat groups by actions in the line.

Being accepted in a combat unit is absolutely sincere...men dont lie to one another about what they really feel when their very lives depend upon it. If you are willing to fight and die beside Americans and to serve in combat alongside them, and they can SEE and judge you by your actions day in and day out....then they KNOW you.

And citizenship as an American is as certain as respect.

Congratulations to these new Citizens of the United States. These men have EARNED the right to call themselves Americans.

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U.S. to give thousands of Iraqis visas -embassy

24 Jul 2008 14:21:44 GMT
Source: Reuters
BAGHDAD, July 24 (Reuters) - Thousands of Iraqis who fear being killed because they worked for the American government or military in Iraq will be awarded visas allowing them to settle permanently in the United States, the U.S. embassy said.

The embassy said on Thursday a new visa scheme would allow 5,000 Iraqis in each year during a five-year period starting last month.

"With the launch of this special immigrant programme, we take a significant step toward ... providing safe haven to those brave Iraqi citizens who risked their lives in order to serve the United States," Ambassador Ryan Crocker said in a statement.

The U.S. government and military has employed thousands of Iraqis since the 2003 invasion, and many have been killed or faced the threat of death from insurgents who view them as collaborators.

The U.S. government has been criticised for not doing enough to protect them.

Richard Albright, the U.S. embassy's senior coordinator for refugee issues, said Iraqis who worked for the United States longer than three months since March 20, 2003, may be eligible.

"Applicants must show they ... have experienced an ongoing serious threat as a result of that employment," Albright said. He added: "the recipients receive permanent residence in the United States; they can stay for the rest of their lives."

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security last year accepted thousands of refugees under a resettlement programme after President George W. Bush's administration came under fire from Congress for taking only 466 Iraqi refugees since the war began.

An existing visa scheme for translators allows 500 Iraqis into the United States each year, so this effectively increases those admissions ten-fold and widens its scope, Albright said.

Britain started accepting Iraqi translators as refugees last November, after militants killed some of its interpreters.

Like other refugees to the United States, the immigrants can apply for refugee status for their families, including spouses, siblings, children, parents and grandchildren, Albright said. They also get help with accommodation, transport and healthcare. (Reporting by Tim Cocks, editing by Mary Gabriel)