    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [July 24, 2006]
    [Pages 1435-1437]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Naturalization Ceremony
    July 24, 2006

        Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks for letting me come back,
    General, proud to be here. I'm really
    looking forward to witnessing what is going to be a very uplifting
    ceremony.
        In a few moments, these men will swear the oath to become citizens
    of the United States of America. As part of the ceremony, they will
    promise to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United

    [[Page 1436]]

    States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This isn't
    going to be the first time these men have made such a promise. They took
    a similar oath when they became soldiers of the United States Army. And
    their presence here bears witness that they kept their word so that
    others might be free.
        I appreciate General Farmer, and
    I want to thank all the folks who work here. I'm incredibly impressed by
    the health care and the decency and the compassion of the people who
    work here at Walter Reed. You bring great credit to our country. I can't
    tell you the number of times, when I travel around America, that I brag
    about Walter Reed and the health care you deliver.
        I appreciate Dr. Emilio Gonzalez, who
    will be administering the oath of office. He's the Director of the U.S.
    Citizenship and Immigration Services. He's the head guy; he came over to
    deliver the oath. [Laughter]
        I want to thank Colonel Deal and
    everybody else. I particularly want to say thanks to the families of
    these three men. Thank you for joining us today.
        Through the generations, our Nation has remained strong and free
    because men and women put on our uniform and defend this country and
    defend our beliefs. The three men we honor today have brought honor to
    America. Like those who have come before, each of these men chose to
    protect our country because they love what America stands for.
        Army Specialist Sergio Lopez had always
    wanted to join the Army, and in 2003, he volunteered. After basic
    training, he moved to Fort Hood, Texas, home of the 1st Cavalry Division
    and the 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Lopez then deployed to Iraq.
    He put his life on the line each day, driving between observation posts
    and his unit's forward operating base in the Baghdad area. In January,
    he was injured by an improvised explosive device. Specialist Lopez says
    that becoming a citizen, quote, ``represents being acknowledged as
    having done my duty, having done my part for the country, like the oath
    says, defending the United States.''
        Today we honor Army Private First Class Eduardo Leal-Cardenas. He was injured when an IED blew up his
    vehicle in Iraq. Private Leal-Cardenas is a man of few words, and he's a
    man of action. When some questioned whether he would ever walk again, he
    laughed, and he began his rehab while still in his bed. When Private
    Leal-Cardenas is asked what citizenship in America means to him, he just
    said one word: Freedom.
        And finally, we honor Army Specialist Lito Santos-Dilone. He was injured while serving as part of
    the protection detail in Iraq. I first met Specialist Santos-Dilone at
    this year's National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast. I was working the rope
    line. He grabbed my hand, and he said, ``I'm not a citizen of the United
    States, and I want to be one.'' Now, here's a man who knows how to take
    it directly to the top. [Laughter] I'm proud to be here when he gets
    sworn in.
        We are stronger and more dynamic when we welcome new citizens like
    these. More than 33,000 non-U.S. citizens currently serve in our
    military. Isn't that interesting--33,000 people who weren't born here
    serve in our military. And just like everybody else who wears the
    uniform, they understand the stakes of what it means to serve in the
    United States military, particularly after September the 11th, 2001.
        After that date, I signed an Executive order making foreign-born
    members of our military immediately eligible for U.S. citizenship when
    they serve on active duty. It made sense to me. If somebody is willing
    to risk their lives for our country, they ought to be full participants
    in our country.
        As our Nation debates the future of our immigration policies, we
    must remember the contribution of these good men and all who dream of
    contributing to this country's future. It says something about our
    country that people around the world are

    [[Page 1437]]

    willing to leave their homes and leave their families and risk
    everything to come to America. Their talent and hard work and love of
    freedom have helped make America the leader of the world. And our
    generation will ensure that America remains a beacon of liberty and the
    most hopeful society this world has ever known.
        I believe this country can be a lawful society and a welcoming
    society at the same time. We're going to enforce our laws, but we'll
    also honor our proud immigrant heritage. I support a comprehensive
    immigration reform that will accomplish five clear objectives. First,
    we'll secure our borders. Second, we must create a temporary-worker
    program that provides foreign workers a legal and orderly way to come
    into the country and do jobs Americans aren't doing. We must hold
    employers to account for the workers they hire. In other words, it's
    against the law to hire an illegal immigrant, and we're going to hold
    employers to account. We must resolve the status of millions of illegal
    immigrants who are here already. We shouldn't be granting people
    automatic citizenship, nor is it possible to kick people out of the
    country. There's got to be a rational way, and I proposed a way forward.
    And finally, we've got to honor the great American tradition of the
    melting pot by helping newcomers assimilate into our society.
        Congress is now considering legislation on immigration reform; that
    legislation must be comprehensive. All elements of the problem must be
    addressed together, or none of them will be solved at all.
        This is a joyful day for these men, and it's a joyful day for me to
    be here with them, and it's a proud day for our Nation. We gain three
    new citizens today, men who knew the cost of freedom and are willing to
    pay that cost so others can live free. It's a privilege to be their
    Commander in Chief, and I look forward to calling them fellow citizens.
        I want to congratulate you for your achievement. I want to thank you
    for your service. I ask for God's blessings on you and your family and
    for God's blessings on the United States of America.
        And now we'll have the oath of citizenship administered.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:12 a.m. at Walter Reed Army Medical
    Center. In his remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Farmer, Jr.,
    USA, commanding general, North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and
    Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and Col. Virgil T. Deal, USA,
    commander, Walter Reed Health Care System. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.