Immigrants in military are focus of hearing

[Judi Lynn]

Immigrants in military are focus of hearing

By Ruth Morris
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted July 8 2006


While serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, Simon Castro learned to watch his back, knowing the enemy is nowhere and everywhere.

But he noticed something very tangible, too. Many of the troops toting guns and kicking up dust by his side were like him -- immigrants from Central America, Haiti and elsewhere.

"Especially in the Army, there are a high percentage of Hispanic Americans and people from different countries. They do it without asking for anything because they want to serve their country," said Castro, 24, a Honduran immigrant who volunteered in 2000 and is now a U.S. citizen.

Military personnel like Castro, who left the Army in 2004, will be the focus of an unusual U.S. Senate field hearing Monday, when members bring their immigration road show to Miami. Seeking to garner public support for a bill that would overhaul the immigration system, senators plan to highlight the contributions of foreign-born soldiers in the war on terror.
(snip/...)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-chearing08jul08,0,2690806.story?coll=sfla-news-sfla

[nealmhughes]

1. Wow! What a shocker...

Anyone who was in the Navy knows about Filipino mess cooks and their special lumpia at midrats!