Allow Lawful Permanent Residents to join the US Coast Guard Auxiliary
Permanent residents are allowed to join as active duty and reserve Coast Guardsmen, but not their volunteer organization
Numerous Lawful Permanent Residents in the US are interested in serving this country by joining the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to do so since membership is restricted to US citizens.
Permanent residents are allowed to enlist for active duty or reserve Coast Guard service, and thus carry weapons and perform law enforcement duties. On the other hand, they cannot be a member of the USCG Auxiliary, a civilian organization without weapons and without law enforcement powers.
S. 1665 and H.R. 2838 contained provisions to lift this restriction but have not passed Congress. More recent Coast Guard appropriations bills do not mention it anymore.
Please lift the unnecessary citizenship restriction for membership in the Coast Guard Auxiliary to allow Lawful Permanent Residents to serve the US as part of this organization.
Permanent residents are allowed to enlist for active duty or reserve Coast Guard service, and thus carry weapons and perform law enforcement duties. On the other hand, they cannot be a member of the USCG Auxiliary, a civilian organization without weapons and without law enforcement powers.
S. 1665 and H.R. 2838 contained provisions to lift this restriction but have not passed Congress. More recent Coast Guard appropriations bills do not mention it anymore.
Please lift the unnecessary citizenship restriction for membership in the Coast Guard Auxiliary to allow Lawful Permanent Residents to serve the US as part of this organization.
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