A bill to expedite the granting of posthumous citizenship to members of the United States Armed Forces.

Bill: 108-s-783
Sponsor: Sen. Miller, Zell [D-GA]
Introduced: 2003-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Citizenship
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Military dependents
Military personnel
Public records
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that a request for the granting of posthumous citizenship to a member of the armed forces who died from an active service-related injury or disease incurred during a period of military hostilities shall be filed on behalf of that person by the Secretary of Defense with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security immediately upon the death of that person. (Current law provides for such filing by the next-of-kin or other representative.)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that a request for the granting of posthumous citizenship to a member of the armed forces who died from an active service-related injury or disease incurred during a period of military hostilities may be filed: (1) upon locating the next-of-kin, and if so requested by the next-of-kin, by the Secretary of Defense (or designee) with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security immediately upon the death of that person; or (2) by the next-of-kin. (Current law provides for such filing only by the next-of-kin or other representative.)
States that Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall approve a request for posthumous citizenship filed by the next-of-kin if: (1) the request is filed within two years after the later of enactment of this section or the date of the person's death; (2) the request is accompanied by a duly authenticated certificate from the executive department under which the person served attesting to the person's honorable service and service-related death; and (3) the Director finds that the person satisfied certain enlistment location or post-enlistment status requirements. (Current law provides for approval by the Attorney General within two years after the later of March 6, 1990, or the person's death.)
States that the Director (currently the Attorney General) shall send the documentation of posthumous citizenship to the next-of-kin.
States that this Act shall take effect as if enacted on September 11, 2001.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text as passed Senate: CR S5256)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text as passed Senate: CR S5256)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5256)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5256)
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate