San Antonio – The pathway that once linked U.S. military service to fast‑track citizenship is shrinking under the Trump administration. Data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show approved military naturalizations dropping from 16,064 in fiscal year 2025 to an estimated 5,948 in the first half of fiscal year 2026.
Declining numbers and new ICE policy
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of expedited naturalizations for service members rose steadily, reaching about 16,200 in 2024. The first year of President Trump’s term, however, saw a modest dip, and the current fiscal year points to a sharp decrease. In 2025 the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a new policy stating, “ICE values the contributions of all those who have served in the U.S. military; however, U.S. military service alone does not automatically exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws.” This replaces the 2022 policy that treated service as a “significant mitigating factor.”
Veterans and families voice concerns
John Lira, a San Antonio Marine Corps veteran and founder of Lone Star Veteranos for Democracy, warned that the shift “targets not the veteran, but their families.” He recalled three platoon members who received citizenship on the day they graduated basic training, noting that such incentives “lift the entire family.” U.S. Army veteran Jay Brown, now with the Texas Veterans Commission, described her own experience of gaining citizenship in less than a year after 9/11, calling it “a weight lifted off my back.”
Impact on Texas families
Texas native Christian Hernandez enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2020 and sponsored his mother for Military Parole in Place, a program that allows illegal immigrant spouses, children and parents to remain legally while their applications are processed. Hernandez said his mother’s status gave her “more documentation than most people have,” but the processing time for parole has tripled—from 4.5 months in fiscal year 2025 to 12.5 months in fiscal year 2026—leaving families in limbo.
Administration’s rationale
Officials in the Trump administration argue that the revised ICE stance reinforces the rule of law and ensures that immigration enforcement is applied uniformly, regardless of military affiliation. They contend that while service members continue to be eligible for parole and other protections, granting automatic exemptions could undermine immigration integrity.
What’s next?
Advocates for veterans’ immigration rights are urging Congress to codify protections for service members and their families, citing the national security benefit of keeping skilled soldiers and their loved ones together. In the meantime, Texas veterans and their families must navigate longer wait times and a stricter enforcement environment.
For those seeking assistance, the Texas Veterans Commission and local nonprofit groups continue to offer guidance on parole applications and naturalization processes.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
