One U.S. military veteran is fighting for his legal status in America after he claims he was recruited into the military under false promises of citizenship. Advocates say he’s not the only one.
I remember when my brother was enlisted into the army, his recruiter had promised him he was going to get I think I remember it was like a $5,000 bonus after completing basic training and AIT, and he ended up with something around $1,000 bonus in the end instead. Complete b.s.
@@SpaceRanger187 right? You have thousands of illegal immigrants drawing benefits when people like this man are left out in the cold and country less. I’m not against immigration in the slightest, our country regardless of what anyone says was built on and by immigrants. I’m just saying it should be done properly. Think of it this way. Would you let someone in your home without at least knowing a little about who they are? Share meals with someone and allow them free reign of your own home? You’re a liar or a complete fool if you say yes. Some of my best coworkers and friends have been newcomers. But there’s is absolutely nothing wrong with forcing immigrants to go through proper vetting processes. It only wrong to hate an entire people over fear.
@@billquakenbush1692 Wrong. Lots of people came to our country through the military. One of our Olympic 5k/10k runners, Paul Chelimo, migrated here from Kenya. When they realized they had an elite Kenyan runner in basic, they sent him straight to Army track team. I served with several people who came here like that. They deserve citizenship more than most Americans.
Military recruiters are salesmen. The COTUS and US CODES provide no automatic naturalization for military service! Service members have opportunity to pursue naturalization. They qualify for fast service. Learn the game rules!
When I joined the Air Force long ago, the recruiter told me I would have nice housing, a nice office, great food, swimming pools, golf courses, bowling alleys and tennis courts on base to enjoy. I'm still waiting for my tennis court.
You got the other stuff!? Boy did I join the wrong service. Though really this is base dependent. Usually a large base in the States is going to have a number of nice amenities. A Smaller base, not so much. A FOB in a warzone? Just be happy that you probably won't get shot at.
I am a US Army veteran. I served for 17 years of active duty. We were all lied to by a recruiter. Not going into much detail, the same thing happened to a friend of mine from El Salvador. He was born in Salvador but came here as a baby. He served with me in the 82nd Airborne, saw combat, and got injured. He was promised citizenship but never got it. The last time I heard from him, he went to a country that he didn’t know, El Salvador.
This is disgusting... I am a former Marine and this is UNACCEPTABLE. Man served his time and gave up his youth to serve our contry and not give him US citizenship? Shame on the recruiter for NOT doing their job and NOT making sure this man gets his citizenship.
@marksmith1597 Did he file the paperwork required. I keep hearing the word automatic in the video clip. But no, it's a paperwork process. Foreign born don't automatically become US citizens without applying for it.
I was a Marine recruiter 84-87. Used car salesman! Nope. Matter of fact I directed a few folks out of my office when they couldn't tell me that they wanted to be a Marine (vice a computer tech, aviation type, or other technical jobs). Matter of fact I had one kid tell me that he wanted to be an electrician. I slid a pen and a piece of paper to him and said "spell it" and he couldn't. Out the door! Semper Fi brother. USMC Ret.
@@Delimon007 Even worse, I taught HS for 14 years post Marine Corps. Had a senior state that she wanted to be an anesthesiologist. Again I asked her to spell it. She couldn't. I told her that I might not know how to spell it but I didn't want to be an anesthesiologist. Told her that if that was her dream, learn as much as you can about the duties and learn to spell it.
I served with SEVERAL individuals over my time in the Army that had this exact experience. They are promised citizenship, serve honorably, serve in combat, and are abandoned. THANK YOU for giving these people a voice!!!
I was in the service for a long time and I never heard of citizenship being promised. I did hear about citizenship being prioritized and expedited. The servicemember had to apply for citizenship at some point. It is not "automatically" given. In other words, there is no INS fairy just magically showing up out of the mist with your citizenship certificate when you are discharged.
@@JoseGonzalez-ps6vy must complete his service or get honorable discharge , but must be given citizenship at some point. It makes zero sense to have non citizens in our military swearing oaths to our country to defend our Constitution and saluting our flag ect. The contract should include the service under honorable circumstances in exchange for citizenship.
He is a fool. Usa&europe HAAATE hard working immig or highly productive immig Should had come in illegaly. Play victim. Live on welfare in blue states. Study in some cool college paid by governement or associations ngos. or work at wal mart mcdonald. Then get citizenship 😂 I have a friend from france. He was a dentist. He wanted to live in usa. You would think usa should prioritize people like dentist to come to the country They give him a hard stressful time to get visas, visa extension, permanant resident status He had to use expensive immigration lawyer. Argue in immigration office. And litteraly write 8 pages essays on why he should be granted to come to usa 😂😂 Sometimes he joke. He should of had just cross texas border. Play victim. Claim assylum. Then go live in california or new york. And exploit the welfare system from both governement and associations 😆
You can't give citizenship to a citizen. If either of your parents is a U.S. citizen then you are automatically a natural born U.S. citizen so says the constitution. Both of his parents are citizens rendering him a natural born citizen at birth. The State of Tennessee has effectively stripped him of his citizenship and arbitrarily so because they don't have a clear understanding of the constitution.
As a former drill sergeant, I can tell you that recruiters will say just about anything to get someone to join. "But my recruiter told me..." was a very common phrase.
yup... saw a girl crying in AIT because the recruiter told her one thing and she signed something different apparently.... got her witht he old bait and switch... cant trust noone....
I’ve worked with people illegally in the country that had drivers licenses. What an embarrassment we have become. Today we are letting non Americans flood the country and giving them allowances yet we can’t give someone that served honorably his citizenship.
So this gentleman served in the military, was paid by the US Department of Treasury, taxed by the IRS, can get full medical benefits from the Veterans Administration but can’t get a drivers license or a US Citizenship? Makes perfect sense.
That's just BS. You don't just "give" citizenship away to people who served as Marines. I was in the Corps, and don't think that should get any special privilege's. He needs to go through the necessary channels to "earn" that citizenship. The only thing he "earned" was the right to be a Marine for life and to wear out sacred emblem for life. He didn't "earn" citizenship. As a Marine, he should know better than wo whine about promises never made in writing, man up, take the proper tests, and become a citizen the proper way.
@@benvaldez1784 Yeah, sure kid. IF you ever wore my uniform you would know we are "Always Faithful" and that means we keep our word and our promises. He was made a promise, via a contract, and it should be kept. Playing call of duty doesn't make you a Marine. I served with way too many people who made citizenship thru blood sweat and a few sent home in boxes to listen to some little kid who in no way speaks for the Corps.
@benvaldez1784 negative. I am also a veteran, and he did indeed earn it. He fought for our country. He didn't get a "privilege", he took an oath and risked his life for this country
@@benvaldez1784 Thats all fine and dandy. But the notion of signing up for the U.S military and even become eligible to serve and NOT gain the citizenship is baffling. THE U.S MARINE CORPS of all branches, let that sink in. What you're basically saying here is that despite getting your legs blown off in some shithole in the middle east decorated with awards , you come back home in all the glory but you don't get the citizenship? That's absolutely retarded. And one more thing AS A MARINE MYSELF , GO FUCK YOURSELF. OORAH
And there's thousands more like him, when they don't want to give you your pension or your medical or whatnot they deport you, and unfortunately sometimes even worse
Lol the US gov recently send an additional $400+ million aid to Gaza, including millions to rebuild that Gaza pier, aid to the enemy, the people who celebrate 9/11 in the streets, dance, cheer, honking throughout Gaza and handing out free food and cake like its a national holiday, all this massive foreign aid overseas and people over here suffering, like 60% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, some states the minimum wage is still $7.25. It’s hysterical 😆
@@DanielRojas-nw3mv I'm a veteran. Born here and they screwed me over as well. Your response wouldn't ever matter to me because I have an extreme disdain for government as a whole. If they can pander to Israel then they can give this man what he is owed. This country is his home just as much as it is mine. I could care less about the federal protocol surrounding it.
I enlisted in the US military as a Resident Alien. I was fully aware that if I wanted my citizenship I would need to apply for it. Eventually I filed the application and became a Naturalized American citizen. I was not lied to, abandoned and looked at the laws and process myself. The INS should do the honorable thing and expedite citizenship for vets like this.
It’s interesting being a resident alien. I was too, I was Australian with a green card and was considering joining marines. I wanted to be a machine gunner but the recruiter told me his higher ups told him “he’s an alien he gets what is given to him” so they suggested supply chain but unlike most aliens I knew I had better options than this and knew that I would be treated like garbage as an alien in the service. Another thing too a lot of Americans kept telling me to stay away from military, which made me second guess. Hope all went well for you, being an alien in America was a tough and somewhat lonely journey
@@BudgetGainsByJJ I qualified for nuclear reactor technician in the Navy except I couldn't get a security clearance so I chose medic in the Air Force. I never heard any talk about or know my citizenship status. I wish you had insisted on infantry (which is where machine gunners come from) in the Marines. I did 10 years as enlisted, went to college, got my citizenship, then served 11 years as officer.
Exactly. As an active service member myself, I understand that there are things I need to be on top of. Sound like he relied solely on the word of one person and didn't do what he needed to do to apply for citizenship. He needs to take responsibility for that. Also the DoD needs to do a better job at constantly informing serving non-citizens that they need to do the paperwork!
@@terrellbradshaw3504 It's not so much the DOD, but the command over them that should be looking out for those that are under them, or the unit they are in/those they work with.
@@BornAgainCarnivore right but the DoD should require reporting of this information to make sure commands are being held accountable for ensuring members are aware. We have to account for other crap that isn't even remotely as important as this.
Idk, I can't speak Navajo, but I know they won the Pacific war. Without them, the Imperial Japanese Intel would have cracked any code we threw at them.
If you managed to avoid poon as a marine, you sir are the most unattractive male alive. I'm sorry but I have alot of experience and spent time around too many who**s and run into too many that say some stuff like "MILITARY MEN TO THE FRONT!!" so you genuinely failed.
If you don't want them in our country, you shouldn't let them in our military period. Anybody that serves in the military should automatically be a citizen.
This was a paperwork screw up, I was in the military and seen many soldiers get their citizenship, it's a big thing and celebration, if someone screwed up it was whoever did his recruiting paperwork.
My father was told the same thing during Vietnam. He had to take the citizenship test to get his citizenship. And he only did it because my mom didn’t trust the process. She wanted us kids to have 2 American parents.
@thegoodsathome as an American Citizen (Born in Texas) whose Parents were Illegal. (Parents Divorced) Mother became Naturalized Citizen before i got into junior high and i Myself joined U.S.M.C. at age 17 Mother signed Approval went off to boot camp at age 18 (Dec 1983 - Dec 1987) 'Hollywood' Marine. I too agree as a Fellow Marine this Man Earned his Citizenship, through service.
@@poollife777 ..... have you ever considered taking some of your own advice! But thanks for stepping up and pointing out Your Asshole in the room!!👏👏👏👏👏👏
I had a Marine recruiter come to my house after I graduated High School, I knew he was completly blowing smoke and thanked him for his service and showed him the door....
@@carltonipoloknowski4736 It's not all about that, bro. Black people are humans too. This is a human thing. Homeless people are mostly white here as well
@@MafaeJamie Well if he had a Social Security card and voted, then someone else must have read something and decided he was a citizen. Because you can't get those unless you are one. Supposedly.
While the recruiter brought him in on a false promise, he did fight for our country and should receive what was promised. The DOD needs to help in this situation.
US soldiers don't fight for their country. They fight for US imperialism and global domination. And they lie to their own soldiers about how they are "defending America".
There is a 77 year old man in Tennesse having this same problem. He was born in Canada on a military base. He has his social security number and has had his drivers license his entire life..drove a commercial truck for a living. It's that new Real ID law causing this problem.
Not really the same thing. That guy was born to a mother and father that were US citizens which means he is a citizen. That whole issue is just Tennessee being pants on head retarded.
@@darkstorminc Only have to have 1 parent who is US citizen to get it. That why whole thing with people saying Obama was not born in USA did not matter because his mother was a USA citizen
@@EVP5309 Serving in the military can be a fast track towards citizenship in certain instances, but you don’t just get citizenship for enlisting, especially not as early as basic training. There’s still an application process. I have personally served with many non-citizens, some of whom did not speak English. Most were Latinos, one Brazilian, one Mongol, a few Slavs.
You aren't that intelligent are you. No one is walking across the border illegally and becoming citizens. Stop the nonsense. This was done wrong and that's it.
depending on MOS. I know a ton of ATC and aircraft engineers who got tons of offers before they even got out with airports and contractors. hell, even if you were a cook and applied for McDonald's, they'd probably hire you on the spot. I got out with a clearance and 10 point preference, got a government job no problem. maybe it's just you or what you did. not much use for something like artillery out in the world, but that's on you if that's the only value you got out with.
@@leok7193Spot on. Infantry veteran here, 10 point preference and clearance. Got a job in law enforcement while on terminal leave, didn't enjoy it and filled out an application on USA Jobs. No issues, first try was a charm. If a vet can't find or keep employment, there's something else going on.
The immigration process in America is horrific. I’ve experienced years of it. They treat people very badly and put you through years of ridiculous hoops
Absolutely disgusting. The government made a PROMISE to this man. He spent all that time as a Marine, yet two-legged bacteria come here illegally and they get well taken care of.
Hmmm! Both are pretty freaking bad! Looking at the current administration, becoming an American citizen would be the bigger insult. Although calling him a soldier does warrant an a** kicking. lol
During Roman times serving in the military was a sure path to citizenship. Mr Canton served our country, he has earned the right to become an American citizen. Please give it to him.
@@weltschmerz333during Roman times they drank wine and ate bread. What’s your point? It’s dumb to compare a dude trying to get citizenship to slavery. WTH. There are decent values and virtues we can take from the past, duh.
Military recruiters are salesmen. The COTUS and US CODES provide no automatic naturalization for military service! Service members have opportunity to pursue naturalization. They qualify for fast service. Learn the game rules!
oh really? what if he served and deserted? what if he served and got kicked out for antisocial behavior? how about we make it conditional instead of automatic?
@@mar25947 so by that definition, it can only be filed for AFTER discharge. So that's when he was supposed to apply and didn't. There's nothing automatic about becoming a citizen, it is and should be an action required upon the hopeful citizen, same way you actually put some effort into becoming a Marine. It's funny to me, though, that he never bothered applying, but also wasn't bothered that he never stood in front of an official, was never quizzed on civics, swore an oath, or received a naturalization certificate. It's almost like he literally decided secret ninjas will do all that for him and never even let him know 🤦♂️ pretty sure he was a substandard Marine, then. What he shows as awards are automatic time in grade promotion and a 2 hour correspondence course. I have a total of 10 certificates of commendation, letters of appreciation, and certificates of appreciation, along with a Distinguished Service Medal, in 4 years, and got my citizenship during the same time, and was sworn in on the deck of an aircraft carrier by California lieutenant governor. It took some research, but blaming a recruiter for some false promises is bs. The guard for your building can let you in to work, tell you where offices are, what benefits the company has but 1: he's not CEO, 2: he doesn't get to make any promises unless they're in writing, and 3: whatever they tell you is to help you navigate once you're in, but what you want to do and how to do it is strictly your job
What if he served and got killed? Does his corpse get citizenship? This is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard in my life! Tricking foreign people to fight wars we ourselves have no business being in... Ugh! I don't like America when RETARDICANS are in office!
@@leok7193 the process is supposed to start while still in service and be completed during AIT, but most drills are too lazy to start doing it so it gets pushed further and further back. The issue is that he didn't apply for his citizenship, which would've been approved, probably because he didn't know that was an issue.
The Army promised me they would pay off my prior college debt as part of my enlistment. That was in 2007, I spent 12 years trying to get them to pay it, and they never paid it, I'm still paying it!
I, like all other enlistees, was promised education on the GI Bill. And for two years after serving and trying to get the tuition I was promised, having to hear the VA rep reciting the long laundry lists of reasons of how the classes I was taking weren't authorized and why the VA wouldn't pay.
@@billquakenbush1692 You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. There are foreigners in all branches of the US Armed Forces. I served with an Haitian immigrant when I was stationed at Camp Lejeune. He should have never been lied to by dishonest Marine recruiters.
@ClarkShumway ---> Wow ---- with that logic you must be a guvment paper pusher. Joining and serving Honorably in a Branch of the U.S. military SHOULD give automatic U.S. citizenship. Spineless/gutless born in America boys that have never served a single day are considered "citizens" simply because their mother hatched them somewhere in the U.S.A.. The man in the video enlisted in the hardest Branch of the U.S. military and served honorably. {Sad that your post got any "Thumbs Ups" at all.}
Spot on. The military doesn't guarantee citizenship, it can only facilitate. Still today, new soldiers who are legal I-551 card holders, and have applied properly for citizenship, get a fast track to citizenship. A coworker just transferred from his position as a senior drill sergeant at FT Leonard Wood. He told me that they will go above and beyond to get trainees a citizenship ceremony at graduation time, but the paperwork needs to be completely in order, and most of that lies with the individual.
@@Driftless-Ramblings according to the recruiters, the paperwork is done by them. thats the problem, people are directly told that they just have to serve and that they process will be done for them. i have seen it first hand.
He should have applied for citizenship while he was in the Corps. Now he needs to reach out to his senator and congressman along with the legal team he has. Best of luck. Semper Fi!!!
Or... He enlisted and served our country with a sworn oath to protect the US and earned the right to become a citizen. French foreign legion anyone? And we screwed him. As a veteran who took a bullet in combat. I say he served his time. The Corps shoulda done it for him. Cut the red tape. I gladly accept him as a citizen of my country.
In 1978 I joined the Air Force and they gave everyone in Basic a questionnaire about the recruiter they had. Whether they were straight about everything. I think this guy deserves thanks and citizenship.
When I joined, i upheld a promise that I would fight for my country WHEN needed. Its not his or my fault we became non-combative during our time. In the Marines, you a still prepared to fight, therefore, thats bogus to not keep a promise.
The man would have been treated better if he snuck across the border. Seems the governor of Florida could write some sort of pardon for his sin and get him a lousy drivers license. I mean would it be just horribly detrimental to the state of Florida and its citizens to issue this guy a drivers license?
Damn that's horrible America doesn't give a fuck about ppl military service !!!! Just look at how they did this gentleman..... & Let's not forget about that naval officers who was murdered in his home!!!!
Even amongst active duty members and veterans, recruiters are considered scumbags for lying and inappropriate behavior with the recruits prior to enlistment. It's not often talked about, but there are quite a few predators in our recruiting departments.
Just a week ago a Marine Recruiter in California broke into two homes, and in the 2nd one, he stabbed an 11 year old girl in her sleep. Thankfully the homeowner was able to hold him at gunpoint and the girl is recovering, but it was insane to hear about.
This man has earned his citizenship! He was willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for this country, served honorably, and now has to put up with this BS!? Give this guy his citizenship!
Under honorable discharge and. Under general discharge depending on circumstances. Just because someone joins and serves but then gets a dishonorable discharge for something serious should not have citizenship.
This makes no sense. He served 4 years as a Marine, was issued a Social Security number, Driver's License, got married and had kids. Of course he believed he was granted citizenship! The Marine Corps needs to fix this.
Thirty years👉30 years living as a US citizen👉did he not try renewing his drivers license before now? Or did he do thirty years & now four years out he’s trying to renew his drivers license? WHY NOW is he making a fuss??? Even so, give him citizenship
marine corps are fknuts in their leadership.. they get upset when marines retire before age 50 and refuse to reenlist and literally retaliate against those veterans with situations like this or denied benifits... so glad I chose army.. they dont care if you leave as long as you serve for how long you promised..
It is not the actual recruiter who lied. It is the fact that we need people in boots. No news station is reporting that currently neither the Navy nor Army is combat ready. That should scare you more than a lie by a recruiter to fill those boots.
I hear that. Being a Soldier is completely different. Being a Soldier requires intelligence and being house broken. Being a Marine just requires the individual not give Sailors a wool rash like Sheep used to when at sea for long periods. And the ability to stop a bullet . So you damn right Marines aren't Soldiers. However they do seem to be popular with Sailors !
The Sheep were easier to clean up after but Marines are said to be much more obedient and not near as rough on a Sailors private parts as a wool covered Sheep was according to the Department of the Navy.
Recruiters DO NOT get bonuses for the number of people that they enlist. A recruiter makes the same weather he writes 0 contracts or 4 contracts a month