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24 troops become U.S. citizens at White House

Two dozen foreign nationals who enlisted in the U.S. military became naturalized American citizens Friday morning during a sun-splashed ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.

In doing so, the 24 service members, hailing from 16 countries ranging from Kenya to China, joined the more than 58,000 foreign nationals who, according to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, have taken advantage of the presidential directive and U.S. law that grant eligibility for citizenship to foreign nationals who have enlisted in the U.S. military since Sept. 11, 2001.

Following Napolitano’s lead, each service member swore “that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

After the administration of the oath, President Obama welcomed the group and hailed their desire both to serve and to become Americans.

“We celebrate the true meaning of patriotism — the love of a country that’s so strong that these men and women were willing to risk their lives to defend our country even before they could call it their own,” Obama said.

“Today we celebrate the very essence of the country that we all love — an America where so many of our forebears came from someplace else; a society that’s been enriched by traditions and cultures from every corner of the world; a dynamic economy that’s constantly renewed by the talents and energies of each new citizen; and a people who understand that citizenship is not just a collection of rights, but it’s also a set of responsibilities.”

Following his remarks, Obama presented the Outstanding American by Choice award to Marine Corps Sgt. Ledum Ndaanee, a Nigerian by birth who suffered a concussion and traumatic brain injury from a roadside bomb attack during his second deployment to Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines.

Ndaanee moved with his family to the U.S. at age 16, enlisted in the Corps in 2004 and became a U.S. citizen that year. The White House said Ndaanee “was instrumental in encouraging others to overcome their injuries by serving as a mentor.”

Ndaanee is now serving as the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Warrior Athlete Reconditioning Program’s strength and conditioning team, the White House said.

Foreign nationals normally must wait five years to apply for citizenship, while those in the military previously had to wait three years. A 2002 executive order signed by President Bush eased the restriction, and Congress passed further modifications in 2004.

Since last year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has offered noncitizen enlistees the opportunity to naturalize immediately upon completion of basic training so they can graduate as American citizens, Napolitano noted.