As you may have noticed, there are a few things in this world that don’t make a lot of sense. One of them that really used to stick in the craw every Veterans Day was that individuals serving in our armed forces had no special consideration when it came to negotiating the arduous path to becoming citizens of a country for which they are willing to risk their lives.
That changed several years ago, and this year more than 100,000 service men and women will become citizens as a result. On Wednesday, 20 young people now serving took the oath of citizenship at a veterans’ recognition ceremony in Hillsborough.
As we have noted many times in this newspaper, to say that the immigration system in this country is broken is an understatement. Shattered may be a better word. And, as this past election reminded us, in this nation of immigrants there is political reward in demonizing those who come to this land in search of a better life.
Considering the polarization in our national political institutions, it’s hard to imagine that a comprehensive overhaul of our dysfunctional immigration policy will happen anytime soon.
In the wake of September 11, we were able to do the right thing, changing immigration rules and, by doing so, truly honoring the service of those men and women who wear the uniform of this nation. Allowing armed forces members a quicker route to citizenship is one bright spot in a dismal picture. And, it’s a start.