[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

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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.