Army Discharge Shocks PhD Candidate and Others Seeking Military Path to Citizenship!

Growing up in China, Panshu Zhao wanted to become American and jumped at the change to attend graduate school at Texas A & M. In 2016 he enlisted in the Army as part of a recruitment program offering immigrants in the country legally a path to citizenship. His basic training was delayed so that his background could be thoroughly investigated.

Now he is one of dozens of recruits and reservists struggling with abrupt military discharges and canceled contracts. Similar arrangements for immigrants have been made since the Revolutionary War, so why is this happening to them?

A local ROTC student and her family were recently deported back to Europe despite her outstanding achievements and a family who had been paying taxes for years. Her ROTC trainer even volunteered to adopt her so she could stay here, but the government did not allow it. She also had big plans for college and to proudly fight for what she thought was her country.

As a grandchild of immigrants, it's difficult to watch potential immigrants being separated from their children. However, this petition is on behalf of those who are already here and using the military to become citizens. What faith can we have in a government that is so unreliable?

Please add your name to this petition to request that the Army and other branches of the military stand by the agreements they made. The government's paranoia about immigrants sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the very core of our "melting pot" nation and those who are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect it.