Jamal S. Baadani, President and Founder of The Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military (APAAM), recently sent an email to his organizational listserv asking for assistance in preventing the deportation of an active-duty Arab sergeant in the US Army, Hicham Benkabbou. Baadani writes:
I don’t understand how it is conceivable to deport a patriotic American who is fighting and helping his fellow soldiers to keep us safe from terrorist attack.
Included in the email were two letters – the original plea for help from Sergeant Benkabbou and a letter of recommendation from his company commander, Captain Mcgee.
Sergeant Benkabbou writes:
I have had my citizenship application pending for close to two years now. It was awaiting my FBI name-check for sometime, and just recently, through Mr. James Windle in the Nebraska office, we found out that my name-check has finally been completed and cleared. My chain of command and I have been in contact with Mr. windle in efforts to schedule me for an interview here in Afghanistan (I’m currently deployed). I am in desperate need of assistance with my citizenship matter for it will have a great impact on my life at this point. A deportation case was initiated against me after I had submitted my citizenship application, and the head counsel and the judge in Atlanta informed us that being naturalized would terminate the case in court. I am also, with full support of my chain of command, being recommended to submit an officer candidate packet and will undergo a security clearance check soon, but I must be naturalized in order to commission.Finally, I am a proud and highly decorated and awarded Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army. I do not think I deserve to get deported after serving honorably during a time of war! I can read, write and speak Arabic, French and English. I have earned the utmost respect and confidence of my superiors and I shall be a great asset for our country if given the opportunity to become a United States citizen. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Captain McGee adds:
SGT Benkabbou’s chain of command has pushed at every level to get his naturalization moved forward. Both myself and the Battalion Commander, LTC Peterman, have contacted senators, ICE (local, state, and federal levels), the prosecuting office in Atlanta, and the POC for naturalization while deployed. We have written letters of commendation extolling SGT Benkabbou’s performance both in garrison and in combat. So far, we have had little apparent success.I have known SGT Benkabbou since he came to the unit from AIT almost three years ago and he has been a consistent, exceptional Paratrooper in all respects. I am as anxious to see this thing through for SGT Benkabbou as he is himself. He deserves to be awarded his citizenship.
As always, I am willing to assist him in any way I can. Let me know exactly what it is you are looking for and we will go from there.
Benkabbou’s case raises numerous questions related to immigration-at-large, Arab immigration in a post-911 context, and what role Arab-Americans should play in American society.
Admittedly, I take issue with some of the positions and language that APAAM uses – which I’ll make the subject of future post – but I am in no way opposed to Arab-Americans joining the US military and/or intelligence communities. This position, however, remains a controversial one among Arab-Americans – and was even the topic of a recent NAAP conference panel, Collaborators or Patriots?
I’m interested in hearing what the KABOBcommunity thinks about Arab-American military service, the deportation of active-duty soldiers, or any other question/point that this case raises. Yallah – sound off!
By the way, if you can help Sergeant Hicham Benkabbou contact APAAM.
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While not a fan of military service in general anywhere, I don’t think it’s fair to label an Arab American in the U.S. military as a collaborator (or patriot for that matter, but that’s another topic). Based on what I read in Nadeem’s post, this sounds like a matter of fairness. The soldier deserves equal treatment under the law. It’s a prime example of how the bigoted minds in gov’t pushed through bigoted laws that when applied blindly by bigots, doesn’t even serve the bigots’ own goals. He deserves to be naturalized and he deserves the support of the Arab American community – even the left wing part. It’s simply a matter of fairness.
Posted by Lamees | November 24, 2007, 6:14 pmFinally, an Arab-American that took his head out of the sand, joined the best army in the world and is fighting for our nation’s victory in a defensive war against Islamist fascists, liberating millions of Afghans in the process.
Bravo!
Clearly, Kabobfest would have a problem with such an individual; that goes without saying.
If the system fails him, APAAM should go straight to the President, who can grant citizenship to any individual by presidential decree. Sounds like he’s earned it.
Posted by Victor | November 24, 2007, 9:55 pmWhat do you mean “finally”? Go to APAAM’s site – right now there are over 5,000 Arab-Americans actively serving in the US military. Furthermore, they’ve served in every American war since the Civil War. And on top of all that, you write “clearly, KABOBfest would have a problem with such an individual” – when the author of this post obviously doesn’t.
Get YOUR head out of the sand and read the f*cking post Victor!
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2007, 12:52 amWhether it is MY head in the sand or YOURS, Anon, is as yet uncertain.
“Admittedly, I take issue with some of the positions and language that APAAM uses”
It remains to be seen what exactly Nadeem is taking issue with, and I look forward to the upcoming post. I think the reference to the NAAP panel, “Collaborators or Patriots?” is troubling. That such a question should even be brought up in a legitimate forum is telling of where the community stands.
Instead of focusing this article on the plight of one Arab-American soldier in gaining citizenship that he has clearly earned, Nadeem chose to emphasize a ridiculous controversy within the Arab-American community as to whether Arabs who join the military and “collaborate” with the “occupation” of Iraq and Afghanistan are sellouts.
If, indeed, the KabobFest writers are of one mind in supporting our troops (including, of course, Arab-American troops) in their prosecution of our nation’s war against global Islamists, then let’s hear an unequivocal statement to that effect, without first testing the waters with a “sound off”.
Posted by Victor | November 25, 2007, 2:01 amThats really funny Victor. Now finish the rest of the quote:
“Admittedly, I take issue with some of the positions and language that APAAM uses – which I’ll make the subject of future post – but I am in no way opposed to Arab-Americans joining the US military and/or intelligence communities.”
Hell brother, you can’t lie because it’s all right there. You’re clearly making an issue of nothing. Instead of assuming and accusing, maybe pose questions to the poster or readers. At the very least, don’t make things up when it’s all right here on this site. It makes you sound like a fool. Clearly, you are.
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2007, 7:09 amThis is a blog post – that is, the opinions of one blogger. This site is not a political platform. It’s a site compose of multiple people, naturally with multiple minds and opinions. The auther even wrote that the stance she takes is controversial. So why would you expect one position, “one mind” and/or “an unequivocal statement”?
Some Arabs think it’s wrong to fight in this war. Others don’t. Besides, it’s not a black/white issue. There are plenty of factors to consider. That’s what makes this controversial and worth “sounding off” about.
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2007, 7:15 amAny idiot can read the rest in the post above! Presumably, anyone who is reading my comments would already have read what it is I am referring to. I quoted what is of concern to me.
I’m bringing up issues of actual importance. Your nitpicking is childish, Ellen, and demonstrates clearly the caliber with which you approach discourse.
As I said, “It remains to be seen what exactly Nadeem is taking issue with, and I look forward to the upcoming post.”
Posted by Victor | November 25, 2007, 11:25 amthat’s cute how a non-arab wants to dictate what is and is not acceptable arab american debate. when our uncles in the u.s. are getting deported (even when they serve in the damn military, apparently) and our family overseas is getting blown up, i’d say the question of whether arab americans serving in the u.s. military are “collaborators or patriots” is an important one. it’s not “ridiculous” for us to be grappling with this.
personally i don’t think anyone at all should serve in the military, especially not people of color, especially not arab americans. i know that sometimes we are made to feel as though we have no choice, especially if we are low-income, got bad grades, went to jail, etc. i wrote an article on this topic for the a-rab. earlier versions of the article appeared at arabisto.com and mideastyouth.com and got a wide range of opinions in the comments.
Posted by nadia | November 25, 2007, 1:15 pmFinally, a response I can respect.
You’re right, Nadia. It clearly is a debate that the Arab community in this country needs to have, whether I think it is legitimate or not. I have no doubt a similar debate was held in the German community during WWII, or in the Italian community, as its sons joined both organized crime and organized crime police task forces.
Posted by Victor | November 25, 2007, 1:30 pmvictor. flip flop. flop flip. victor.
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2007, 5:13 pmlol
she too busy beating her wife
Posted by Anonymous | November 25, 2007, 6:02 pmYou people are a zoo.
What flip flop?
Posted by Victor | November 25, 2007, 6:56 pmMr. Benkabbou…
Mr. Benkabbou, I hope you are reading this.
ICE and the US Government would not pursue you without evidence. They do not wish to persecute you but rather to right a wrong.
You lied to the ARMY and the US Government to gain access to the US Army and the Country. It is wonderful that you have served honorably but do not think that the US owes you. You owe them. You lied to gain entry to the Army. Therefore, you serve the hand that feeds you.
The annulled marriage you speak of, you annulled after being caught and had already committed bigamy by that time.
Own up to your actions.
As a US Citizen, do you intend to continue to live the life of a Sergeant/Officer by bending the laws?
Its up to the courts.
Best Wishes
Posted by Anonymous | January 6, 2008, 10:08 amI believe 1 of your advertisements triggered my internet browser to resize, you might want to put that in your blacklist. Arab Sergeant in US Military Fights Deportation | KABOBfest is a cool name for a blog BTW
Posted by Joseph Sims | May 22, 2011, 12:32 am