WWII Vet faces possible deportation after finding out he is not a citizen...

[Machx2]

Ninety-five-year-old Leeland Davidson discovered recently that he's not a U.S. citizen, despite living nearly 100 years in the country and serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

Davidson, from Centralia, Washington, told KOMO News that he discovered he wasn't a U.S. citizen when he was turned down for an enhanced driver's license he needed for a trip to Canada to visit relatives.

"We always figured because he was born to U.S. parents he's automatically a U.S. citizen," said Davidson's daughter, Rose Schoolcroft.


Davidson was born in British Columbia in 1916. He checked up on his citizenship before joining the Navy and was told by an inspector at the U.S. Department of Labor Immigration and Naturalization Service he had nothing to worry about. Now he worries that he won't be able to prove his citizenship, because his parents were born in Iowa before local governments started keeping records of birth certificates in 1880. "I want it squared away before I pass away," he says.

Schoolcraft says they tried to dissuade him from pursuing the matter. Employees at the local passport office scared them, telling her father "If he pursued it, (he could) possibly be deported or at risk of losing Social Security."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110324/us_yblog_thelookout/wwii-vet-discovers-hes-not-a-u-s-citizen

How messed up is this. Let all the mexicans in, drop their anchor babies, yet we threaten a veteran of deportation. I would be just like this guy, I would want it taken care of before I passed away too. This country has become pure crap.

[Denny]

I was reading this earlier. They are already expiditing his application. I think it'll just happen. Too much bad press not to.

[Machx2]

I was reading this earlier. They are already expiditing his application. I think it'll just happen. Too much bad press not to.

I agree, I don't see them deporting him. Just the threat of it gets me boiling.

[ceyko]

I can agree and I've always said, if you want citizenship - join up! So, even he were not technically a citizen I'd be okay with it since he served.

But ya...gotta love this shit.

[Machx2]

I can agree and I've always said, if you want citizenship - join up! So, even he were not technically a citizen I'd be okay with it since he served.

But ya...gotta love this shit.

I do not have a problem what so ever with allowing illegals into the military and serving. I would give them automatic citizenship in my opinion.

[GhostTX]

I do not have a problem what so ever with allowing illegals into the military and serving. I would give them automatic citizenship in my opinion.

I say serve, then pass the standard citizenship test.

[ceyko]

I say serve, then pass the standard citizenship test.

Serve, 5 years minimum, learn the standard language in the military (so even training as part of 5 years), honorable discharge ...etc.

Dishonorable discharge = deportation

[Denny]

Both of his parents were US citizens, though. He shouldn't need it. The catch is that records weren't kept that far back. The state his father was born in started their record keeping three years after his birth.

[Machx2]

Both of his parents were US citizens, though. He shouldn't need it. The catch is that records weren't kept that far back. The state his father was born in started their record keeping three years after his birth.

Yeah, it is a big mess. He shouldn't have to prove anything though is what I don't understand.

[Denny]

Yeah, it is a big mess. He shouldn't have to prove anything though is what I don't understand.

Change his name to Jose and he'll get amnesty.

[Machx2]

Change his name to Jose and he'll get amnesty.

Or Barack

[Forever_frost]

This twists my stomach

[bcoop]

Not saying this situation fits the bill, but I am not in complete agreement with letting immigrants serve as a way to attain citizenship. In today's world, how are they to really know who they are letting in? Who's to say Muslims won't use this as an internal attempt to create more chaos, havoc, and death? Sucks that you have to even consider it, but just look at the Ft Hood incident, along with all the other caucasian terrorists that are awaiting trial.

[GSRGuy94]

I was actually going to make a thread here about this, but I'm glad I checked first. This is a damn shame. If you live here your whole life under the pretense that you are a citizen, serve in the military, and then come to find out later in life that you are not a citizen, you should be protected.

[O.C.]

Anyone else notice that it was "the local passport office" that made the threat of deportation? Which was probably the Post Office people who know nothing of Immigration Law.
The Senators Office has probably already called Immigration and he ask that they issue a certificate of citizenship, they issue them to US Citizens who were born abroad...military bases, embassys etc

Here is the law:
Birth abroad to two United States citizens

A child is automatically granted citizenship in the following cases:

1. Both parents were U.S. citizens at the time of the child's birth
2. The parents are married
3. At least one parent lived in the United States prior to the child's birth. INA 301(c) and INA 301(a)(3) state, "and one of whom has had a residence."

The FAM (Foreign Affairs Manual) states "no amount of time specified."

A person's record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of citizenship. They may also apply for a passport or a Certificate of Citizenship to have their citizenship recognized.