Immigration/conscientious objection/atheism
A bad combination, clearly! And so relevant to my interests. My mind is blown, even though I knew several of these facts separately.
A woman who has lived in the United States for 30 years and now hopes to become a naturalized citizen has run into a road block: her lack of religion.
Margaret Doughty, 65, of Palacios, Texas applied to become a citizen of the United States, but on her application she did not agree to bear arms in defense of the United States because she was morally opposed to killing. Naturalization applicants are required to swear such an an oath, but conscientious objectors can obtain an exemption...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Houston responded to Doughty’s conscientious objector claim by asking her to provide an “official church stationery” showing she was “a member in good standing” of a church that opposed the bearing of arms. She has until Friday to provide such evidence of her church membership.
Two prominent atheist groups... have sent letters on behalf of Doughty. The letters warned the USCIS office in Houston that it would face legal action if it refused to acknowledge Doughty as a conscientious objector because she was not a member of a church.
Source: Immigration office tells atheist applicant to prove church membership
See also: Metafilter thread
This entry was originally posted at http://naraht.dreamwidth.org/531998.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
A woman who has lived in the United States for 30 years and now hopes to become a naturalized citizen has run into a road block: her lack of religion.
Margaret Doughty, 65, of Palacios, Texas applied to become a citizen of the United States, but on her application she did not agree to bear arms in defense of the United States because she was morally opposed to killing. Naturalization applicants are required to swear such an an oath, but conscientious objectors can obtain an exemption...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Houston responded to Doughty’s conscientious objector claim by asking her to provide an “official church stationery” showing she was “a member in good standing” of a church that opposed the bearing of arms. She has until Friday to provide such evidence of her church membership.
Two prominent atheist groups... have sent letters on behalf of Doughty. The letters warned the USCIS office in Houston that it would face legal action if it refused to acknowledge Doughty as a conscientious objector because she was not a member of a church.
Source: Immigration office tells atheist applicant to prove church membership
See also: Metafilter thread
This entry was originally posted at http://naraht.dreamwidth.org/531998.html. Please comment there using OpenID.