Substantive Paper

Executive Discretion in Immigration in the Department of Defense’s Military Accession Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) Student’s Name Institution Course # and Name Professor’s Name Submission Date . Introduction The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program allowed qualified noncitizens to gain eligibility to be U.S. citizens. The pilot program began during Bush’s administration to support the U.S. military efforts in combating global conflicts while giving the soldiers citizenship. The recruits needed to be healthcare professionals or proficient in select languages. However, it was suspended because members needed to fulfill the strenuous security standards. The program provided a chance for noncitizens with an interest in serving in the U.S. military to participate in protecting the country. The service members could bypass the immigration citizenship application and become citizens through naturalization. Formation of the MAVNI Program In 2008, immigration attorney Margret Stock began the program to recruit intelligent and talented immigrants. Legal aliens were allowed to join the U.S. military if they possessed skills such as proficiency in foreign languages and medical skills. MAVNI allowed the participants to obtain expedited citizenship through naturalization. The program would support the Department of Defense’s mission to combat adversaries by deploying military forces. According to the U.S. Naval Institute (2021), the enlisted soldiers had a vast awareness of diverse global cultures, which made communication with friends and foes easier during deployment. The soldiers were used to leverage these advantages and improve the efficiency of the military. The executive aims to fix challenges in the immigration system to ensure efficiency in operations. President Bush's administration formulated the program to aid the military efforts while providing citizenship to qualified immigrants. President Obama's administration focused on immigration reforms (Huang, 2020). The administration acknowledged the program's positive impact on immigrants having the opportunity to serve the country, but the security threats limited its efficiency. Eventually, the MAVNI program was closed in 2016 due to its limitations, such as the possibility of members sharing sensitive information with terror groups (Huang, 2020). Therefore, the program was formulated to enhance security efforts and reward legal aliens with citizenship, but the security threat it posed led to its closure. Arguments in Support of MAVNI Program The MAVNI program offers a means for the military to have access to high-level proficiency in language within a short time. Proponents argue that the MAVNI program equips the military with the resources they need to communicate in new jurisdictions (Hodge, 2023). In adults, being proficient in a foreign language is an arduous and lengthy process that might delay vital operations in the military. MAVNI program is an excellent tool for reinforcing the National Defense Strategy on developing a comprehensive understanding of foreign languages to communicate with adversaries and allies. The proponents argue that MAVNI bridges the gap in cultural diversity due to their proficiency in language and culture (Hodge, 2023). Therefore, the MAVNI program enhances military operations in new territories to ensure that the mission and the goals are attained. Noncitizen military help support the mission of the U.S. Defense forces; hence, they need to be acknowledged for their contribution. Wong and Bonaguro (2020) argue that noncitizens who meet the requirements to participate in protecting the country should be accorded the right to be citizens. MAVN program hugely benefits the nation since the troops protect the country's welfare. The proponents argue that it is vital to reward the troops with benefits for their service to the nation. The members should receive benefits from education and health services as a form of appreciation for their commitment. When noncitizens defend the nati...