Marine Gains U.S. Citizenship

After two tours in Iraq, U.S. Marine Cpl. Mario Ramos-Villalta was finally granted citizenship. Ramos-Villalta fled El Salvador's civil war in 1989 with his family as a young boy and lived in the United States for a time, although he was never able to gain citizenship. It was not until he put his life on the line fighting for a country that was not legally his own that he was granted the right to call himself an American. Now that he is finally an American Citizen, he gets the wonderful gift of another tour in the Middle East, this time in Afghanistan. In my opinion, the U.S. government is too strict concerning immigration. It is wrong for someone to have to risk their life before being granted citizenship. However, according to the article, Ramos-Villalta was not at all bitter about his situation, he was completely thrilled. "I finally get to wear the uniform of my country," he remarked. "I don't feel left out." What do you all think? Was it wrong of the U.S. government to deny him citizenship before his service, or do you feel that it was a good way for him to prove his loyalty? Perhaps this is a ploy by the U.S. government to keep American causalties in Iraq low by sending non-U.S. citizens to fight overseas (but i really doubt that).