The Army is suspending discharges of foreign-born recruits who enlisted as part of a special military program that put them on the path to U.S. citizenship, following lawsuits by soldiers who say they have been expelled unfairly and without explanation.
In a July 20 memo, a top Army personnel official ordered the service to “suspend processing of all involuntary separation actions” for individuals in the program and ordered a review of the discharge procedures for affected soldiers by Aug. 15.
Marshall M. Williams, acting assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, also asked the Army deputy chief of staff in charge of personnel to recommend whether additional guidance should be issued regarding the discharge procedures for individuals who enlisted through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program (MAVNI).
