Let Her In

Did you read about this little gal? Born Ekaterine Bautista, she was an illegal alien in the United States at the time of the 9/11 attack. She decided to join the army, and did so under her aunt's name, as Rosalia Guerra Morelos. Her aunt is a US citizen and Ekaterine took her aunt's Social Security card, birth certificate, and driver's license to the recruiting station.

As part of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, noncitizens who serve in the military one year during peace time or one day during wartime are eligible to apply for fast-tracked citizenship. In 2002, President George W. Bush issued an executive order and invoked the wartime law as of Sept. 11, 2001.

While serving in Iraq, she earned, among other awards, a Combat Action Badge. Now her citizenship is on hold because she lied to join the military.

In the past, lots of folks lied to join the military. Like Audie Murphy.

I say, let her in. She's earned it.