I have never dared to say this of an American President: but more than any other president in our history, the message and actions of President Donald Trump are uniquely Un-American. His previous crudeness and immaturity may have diminished my respect for Trump himself, but never for his intentions to “Make America Great Again” or for the White House. However, the Trump administration’s indirect decision to repeal The Pentagon’s MAVNI Program based on little logic or evidence has severely damaged my view on what President Trump considers a “Great” America to be.
To be clear, the plan to repeal DACA had sound basis in Constitutional and economic arguments. However, its announcement had the unintended consequence of effectively ending the Pentagon’s program of Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI). Described by co-founder Lt. Colonel Margaret Stock as a “goose that laid golden eggs”, MAVNI allowed for immigrants both illegal and legal to earn citizenship through eight years of military service after a rigorous application process. Designed to select dedicated recruits with special language or technical skills, MAVNI has trained over 10,000 soldiers, many of them decorated including Olympic Silver Medalist Paul Chelimo and Saral Shrestha, soldier of the year for 2012. A suspension of the program was ordered in June 2017 by a memo from the Pentagon citing “the potential threat posed by individuals who may have a higher risk of connections to Foreign Intelligence Services”. Other reasons might include the heavy toll on the Department of Defense’s manpower and resources as newly regulated security checks on all recruits were implemented after the discovery that some had forged educational credentials. Without MAVNI, the immigration status and lives of thousands of American servicemen had recruits have been put into flux. As the suspension drags on, the citizenship status of about 1000 MAVNI recruits have been put into a state of limbo as they await naturalization on expiring Visas. Furthermore, MAVNI recruits who did not have a chance to complete the refurbished background checks have seen their status in the military frozen, unable to continue to train or serve. The suspension of MAVNI might also endanger the status of immigrants currently serving on the front lines or in uniform, but have yet to complete their naturalization process. Those enlisted in the MAVNI program have heavily criticized its suspension. Among the most vocal is Indian native Kirti Tiwari, a molecular biologist and army officer selected as a nominee for NASA’s astronaut program. Mr. Tiwari has been unable to gain a security clearance due to the suspension of MAVNI, and finds both his service and immigration status in a state of flux. Mr. Tiwari now heads a lawsuit of multiple naturalized citizens on a charge of discrimination. Several non-citizen enlistees have also lobbied for the Department of Homeland Security to process their naturalization papers. For the thousands of servicemen who depend on MAVNI, the Pentagon’s cancellation of MAVNI is an egregious affront to American ideals, identity, and national security. For John and Davis C------ from China, exchange students living in South Bend, Indiana on expiring student visas, this rhetoric is all too real. Speaking on the cancellation of their student Visas, Davis stated that the suspension of MAVNI was “A nightmare for me, a catastrophic nightmare.” Labeled as traitors for enlisting with the US army by friends and even family members, John and Davis were unable to complete basic training, and now both risk deportation. One of thousands of educated young men who threw their lot in with the US military, John and Davis were shocked when they learned that not only did their country honor their commitment, but considered them a danger to national security. Yet, this policy is especially strange considering the history of programs similar to MAVNI, such as the infamous French Foreign Legion. Famous for fighting to the last man in hopeless situations like the Battle of Camaron, Maison Carre, and Dien Bien Phu, the Legion essentially carved out the French Empire in Algeria and Indochina with their steel and blood. Despite the lack of any screening procedure, and a promised “blank slate” to any enlistee, the Foreign Legion is known as the most loyal division in the French Army. Despite fears, the history of the MAVNI program has been extremely similar. After extensive checks, MAVNI recruits are known to serve their nation and comrades with valor and duty. In its history, not a single MAVNI recruit has been unveiled as a foreign operative according to the Pentagon memo that suspended the program. Instead, MAVNI recruits lend valuable insight into the language and culture of their native nations, alongside much needed technical and specialized assistance among the officer corps based on their extensive educational background. Personally, the suspension of MAVNI has left me deeply confused. What better test of our loyalty to democracy and country than the will to fight and die for liberty? Why must the Pentagon doubt the loyalty of those who have already pledged themselves to this cause? Finally, if an immigrant can no longer prove their American mettle in the military, how else can they hope to embrace the ethos of our nation?
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