Policy for the Naturalization of Military Servicemen and Women

Abstract

Despite our nation’s historical dependence on foreign volunteers in our armed forces, the rights promised in exchange for their service have been impeded through policy perpetuated by the Trump administration. In 2017, a series of legislation with the goal of decreasing legal immigration into the country negatively impacted citizenship opportunities for past and current service members. The Biden administration pledged to regress these policies as they relate to service members but have astonishingly decided to uphold their current standing. The goal of this policy analysis is to explore the proposed Support and Defend Our Military Personnel and Their Families Act (H.R.3881) and to evaluate its elements of distributive justice. The analysis advocates for H.R. 3881 and provides reference to similar bills that would serve to bolster the overall efficacy of a bill of this nature.