U.S. Army Is Discharging Immigrant Recruits Who Were Promised Citizenship
Panshu Zhao moved to the U.S. from China about eight years ago to study. It was the culmination of a lifelong dream.
Since then he has completed a graduate degree and is now pursuing a doctorate in geography at Texas A&M University. In describing his life to NPR's Steve Inskeep on Friday, he divided it into two parts: His life in China and his American life.
The latter includes regular attendance at a Christian church and a deep respect for the military. So deep in fact, that in 2016 he enlisted and has been serving in the Army Reserve while awaiting orders for full-time training.
But Zhao recently found himself among dozens of immigrant recruits who joined the military through a special Defense Department program promising an expedited path to citizenship, but then abruptly discharged with little or no explanation.
, about 40 enlistees — reservists and active duty recruits, all in the country legally — had been waiting for years to be cleared for duty before beingto serve in the U.S. military. And for many, the rejection has thrown their immigration status into limbo.
