“I gave my heart to the Americans and thought of nothing else but raising my banner and adding my colors to theirs.” – Marquis de Lafayette

Did you know that immigrants are a significant presence in our military? This isn’t a recent phenomenon.

By the 1840s, half of all military recruits were foreign-born. They made up 20% of the Union Army during the Civil War. And half a million immigrants served in the armed forces during World War I, thirteen of whom won the Medal of Honor.

Today, approximately 25,000 non-citizens serve in the US military, with about 5,000 non-citizens joining each year. These heroes serve because they love the United States. Many become citizens while deployed or after they serve. In fact, between 2001 and 2017, over 109,000 immigrants became citizens while wearing the uniform of the US military.

Many of these men and women go on to make the ultimate sacrifice and die for our country.  Let us remember military personnel of every ethnicity who fought and fight for the freedom we enjoy today.

The Marks Gray Immigration Team is thankful for the bravery and sacrifice of these men and women, and we hope you and your family had a wonderful Memorial Day holiday!

Sincerely,

Giselle Carson