The Herald-Sun from Durham, North Carolina • A4

4A SATURDAY JULY 7 2018News HERALDSUN.COM SAN ANTONIO Some immigrant U.S. Army reservists and recruits who enlisted in the military with a prom- ised path to citizenship are being abruptly discharged, the Associated Press has learned. The AP was unable to quantify how many men and women who enlisted through the special recruitment program have been booted from the Army, but immigration attorneys say they know of more than 40 who have been discharged or whose status has become ques- tionable, jeopardizing their futures. was my dream to serve in the said reservist Lucas Calixto, a Brazilian immigrant who filed a lawsuit against the Army last week. this country has been so good to me, I thought it was the least I could do to give back to my adopted country and serve in the United States Some of the service members say they were not told why they were being discharged.

Others who pressed for answers said the Army informed them been labeled as security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defense Department had not com- pleted background checks on them. Spokespeople for the Pentagon and the Army said that, due to the pend- ing litigation, they were unable to explain the dis- charges or respond to questions about whether there have been policy changes in any of the military branches. Eligible recruits are required to have legal status in the U.S., such as a student visa, before enlisting. More than 5,000 immigrants were recruited into the program in 2016, and an estimated 10,000 are currently serving. Most go the Army, but some also go to the other military branch- es.

To become citizens, the service members need an honorable service desig- nation, which can come after even just a few days at boot camp. But the recently discharged serv- ice members have had their basic training de- layed, so they be naturalized. Margaret Stock, an Alaska-based immigration attorney and a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who helped create the immigrant recruitment program, said been inundated over the past several days by recruits who have been abruptly discharged. All had signed enlist- ment contracts and taken an Army oath, Stock said. Many were reservists who had been attending unit drills, receiving pay and undergoing training, while others had been in a layed program, she said.

have been serving in the Army since Stock said. have won the revolution without im- migrants. And not going to win the global war on terrorism today without Stock said the service members heard from had been told the Defense Department had not man- aged to put them through extensive background checks, which include CIA, FBI and National Intelligence Agency screenings and counterin- telligence interviews. Therefore, by default, they do not meet the back- ground check require- ment. a vicious she said.

The AP interviewed Calixto and recruits from Pakistan and Iran, all of whom said they were devastated by their un- expected discharges. the great feeling I had when I enlisted is going down the said Calixto, 28. understand why this is In hopes of undoing the discharge, he filed a law- suit in Washington, D.C., last week alleging the Defense Department given him a chance to defend himself or ap- peal. He said he was given no specific grounds other than Calixto, who lives in Massachusetts and came to the U.S. when he was 12, said in an email in- terview arranged through his attorney that he joined the Army out of patriot- ism.

In the suit, Calixto said he learned he was being kicked out soon after he was promoted to private second class. The Pakistani service member who spoke to the AP said he learned in a phone call a few weeks ago that his military career was over. were so many tears in my eyes that my hands move fast enough to wipe them he said. was devastated, because I love the U.S. and was so honor- ed to be able to serve this great He asked that his name be withheld because he fears he might be forced to return to Pakistan, where he could face dan- ger as a former U.S.

Army enlistee. Portions of the 22-year- military file reviewed by the AP said he was so deeply loyal to the U.S. that his relationships with his family and fiancee in Pakistan would not make him a security threat. Nonetheless, the docu- ments show the Army cited those foreign ties as a concern. The man had enlisted in April 2016 anticipating be a citizen within months, but faced a series of delays.

He had been slated to ship out to basic training in January 2017, but that also was delayed. unclear how the service dis- charges could affect their status as legal immigrants. In a statement, the De- fense Department said: service members (i.e. contracted recruits, active duty, Guard and Reserve) and those with an honor- able discharge are protect- ed from However, immigration attorneys told the AP that many immigrants let go in recent weeks were an dis- neither dish- onorable nor honorable. US Army quietly discharging immigrant recruits BY MARTHAMENDOZA AND GARANCE BURKE Associated Press MIKE KNAAK AP A Pakistani recruit, 22, who was recently discharged from the U.S.

Army, holds an American flag as he poses for a picture. The AP interviewed three recruits from Brazil, Pakistan and Iran, all of whom said they were devastated by their unexpected discharges. Mark Schenck, chair- man of the Scotland County Republican Party, said he thinks voters might have struggled to remember the spelling of name. very intelli- gent, but his name was hard to Schenck said. State GOP officials disavowed Walker last week after he was ejected from a Scotland GOP meeting after a confronta- tion in which he called Schenck a definitely got a mental problem, and that needs to be taken into Schenck said.

He criticized party rules that prevent county party leaders from taking sides in contested primar- ies. had two Republicans running for that office, and we are not allowed to vet the he said. Schenck said look- ing into having someone mount a write-in cam- paign for the House seat. In Hoke County, though, Hartman said Republicans are instead focusing their energy on winning seats on the county board of commissioners this year. FROM PAGE 3A WALKER REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN HOKE AND SCOTLAND COUNTIES AND EVEN HIS PRIMARY OPPONENT SAY GOP VOTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY SHARE RACIST VIEWS, WHICH HAVE PROMPTED STATE AND LOCAL PARTY LEADERS TO DISAVOW HIS CANDIDACY..