Despite Iraq war, military lures immigrants with hope of citizenship

“In a sunbaked parking lot, Ruben Gomez, 17, takes a break from the pull-ups, crunches and rallying cries of a Saturday workout session for Marine Corps recruits. He has little doubt about why he’s here, on the verge of a military career that may take him to Iraq.

“If I’m a part of the Armed Forces, I’ll get my citizenship and I’ll get more privileges,” said Gomez, a legal U.S. resident from Colombia.

For young immigrants eager to become citizens quickly, the military’s lure is powerful. News of suicide bombings in Iraq, stories of service members deployed two and three times, and efforts by critics of the military to dissuade recruits do little to faze young people like Gomez. Many say the military’s offer to expedite their citizenship applications, among other perks, is hard to beat.
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