Woman Who Joined U.S. Army After 9/11 at Risk of Deportation

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-04-27 06:00:00 UTC
Topics:

"It was a calling," said Ekaterine Bautista of her decision to join the military days after the 9/11 attacks. "I felt the need to join because it was the right thing to do, and also because of my daughter. I had to protect my daughter."

But Bautista had a problem. An undocumented immigrant brought to the United States by her mother as a minor, she was rejected by the Army recruiter. But her love of country and feeling of duty was so strong, she couldn't give up the calling. So Bautista's aunt, an American citizen, gave her permission to enlist under her identity.

Bautista went on to distinguish herself in 6 years of combat duty, 13 months of which she served in the Iraq War, receiving a number of commendations and certificates and the Combat Action Badge along the way, and getting promoted to sergeant after a few years. She put her life on the line where many others would not have, and wanted to continue serving, but when her real identity came out, she was honorably discharged. Even now, she longs to return to the military and the companions she left behind.

Though Bautista did not know when she signed up that the military could provide a pathway to citizenship, when she later learned this she applied to remain in the country she had served so well. But the process was put on hold due to her lack of legal status. Immigration officials do have discretion, so if there is any justice, Bautista will be given the respect she deserves; her superiors and fellow soldiers have written on her behalf.

Right now, there is no way for undocumented immigrants to legally join the military and serve this country, even if they've lived here since childhood and consider it their only home. Yet Bautista is hardly the only patriotic undocumented immigrant to feel the need to serve her country is worth assuming someone else's identity. We need this kind of dedicated soldier; we need to provide a legal way for them to enlist. The DREAM Act would address this for youth brought to the United States as minors by giving them the chance to receive a temporary visa and become legal permanent residents by serving two years in the military. Bautista would have met that requirement three times over.

Photo credit: Beverly & Pack

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.

RELATED PETITION

Ask Your Congressperson to Support the DREAM Act!
SIGN PETITION
28,830 People
PREVIOUS STORY:
Congressman Receives Death Threats for Opposing Arizona Law
NEXT STORY:
Community Members Fight Detention of High School Graduate with a Mental Disability

COMMENTS (13)

    Comment Policy

    · All fields are required to comment.

    [X]

    Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the campaign on Change.org. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments which, as determined solely in our discretion: (1) are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; (2) include content solely intended to personally attack the campaign creator, (3) are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them; and/or (4) violate our terms of service and/or privacy policy. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion. Please also be advised that: (A) we do not actively curate and/or monitor in any manner whatsoever the comments made on the Change.org platform, and (B) the creator of each campaign on Change.org may remove any comment at her/his/its discretion.