MIAMI (AP) — Immigration authorities on Wednesday apologized for rejecting a Cuban native’s naturalization request after the man belatedly discovered he was not a U.S citizen and quickly planned to administer his oath of allegiance.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Spokesman Chris Bentley said the agency should have granted 58-year-old Mario Hernandez citizenship because of his Vietnam-era military service. Veterans who serve during designated periods of conflict do not have to meet all the standard requirements for naturalization.

“USCIS made a mistake in the adjudication of Mr. Hernandez’s application for citizenship, and apologizes to him for any hardship this caused him and his family,” Bentley said in a statement, adding, “this morning after a thorough review of the case with Mr. Hernandez, we were able to approve his naturalization application.”

He initially said Hernandez would be able to take his Oath of Allegiance and become a citizen at the next naturalization ceremony in his hometown of Tallahassee, but after his attorney complained, authorities quickly changed course and agreed to naturalize Hernandez on the spot.

“USCIS issued a heartfelt apology which we accepted,” said Hernandez’s attorney Elizabeth Ricci, following the meeting with officials in Tallahassee Wednesday.

Hernandez worked years for the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons using a Social Security number he received when he arrived in the country as a child. He said he thought he was a U.S. citizen and repeatedly voted.

It was only last fall when he sought a passport to take a cruise with his wife and needed a passport that he discovered the authorities did not list him as a citizen or as a permanent resident. Suddenly, his immigration status was in limbo, and he was under federal investigation.

Ricci said last week it wasn’t until she took her client’s case to the media that she began to receive a positive response from USCIS. She said before that, officials had focused on Hernandez’s voting record, suggesting they might be interested in filing charges related to voter fraud.

Since the Cuban revolution, those who leave the communist island generally get fast-tracked to U.S. residency. Hernandez came in 1965 with his mother and said he assumed she filed immigration papers.

Ricci said she was glad to be able to rectify Hernandez’s situation but worried about other immigrants who could not afford legal representation.

• Immigration Issues
• American Football
• Mario Hernandez
• USCIS

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday defended a decision by Republican leaders to block a narrow immigration measure pushed by a GOP congressman, possibly shutting down the likeliest area of compromise on the contentious issue.

Boehner said that the national defense bill was not the place for a vote on California Rep. Jeff Denham’s measure offering citizenship to immigrants brought illegally to the country as youths who serve in the military. The decision was the latest sign that broader immigration overhaul measures promoted by President Barack Obama and already passed by the Senate will likely die this year in the Republican-led House.

“We have supported it in the past but trying to do this on the national defense authorization bill seems to us be an inappropriate place to do it,” Boehner told reporters about Denham’s bill. He said there’d been discussions about allowing Denham a stand-alone vote on his bill but no decision has been made.

Despite the opposition from Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Denham planned to push forward with offering his bill, known as the ENLIST Act, as an amendment to the annual defense policy bill during a meeting of the House Rules Committee later Tuesday.

House leaders, who control the Rules Committee, have made clear that Denham’s effort will be denied.

Denham said Tuesday that he was surprised by the announcement, and hasn’t been given a reason.

“These men and women want to serve the only country that they know. They’re willing to put their lives on the line for our freedom. Why wouldn’t we have that as part of our national defense authorization bill?” Denham asked at a press conference outside the Capitol, flanked by immigrants who would be helped by the bill.

Denham’s bill would allow immigrants who were brought to this country on or before Dec. 31, 2011, and were younger than 15 years old to become legal, permanent residents — the first step toward citizenship — through honorable service in the military.

It was co-sponsored by 50 House members, 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans, but an outspoken minority was opposed. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., had warned that “all hell will break loose” if Denham tried to promote the measure. And Cantor faces a primary opponent in June who’s accused him of supporting amnesty.

The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill last year that would boost border security, remake legal worker programs and offer a path to citizenship to the estimated 11.5 million people now living here illegally. The House has not acted on any element of the legislation, and Boehner reiterated his position Tuesday that GOP distrust of Obama is to blame.

“Until the president gives us some reason, some confidence that we can trust him to implement an immigration reform bill, we really don’t have much to talk about,” Boehner said. “The ball’s in the president’s court.”

Boehner declined to specify any steps Obama could take to regain the GOP’s trust.

Despite a wide coalition of business, labor, religious groups, farmers and others pushing for an immigration overhaul, many individual Republican House members who represent largely white districts have been unmoved. That’s particularly true in an election year amid concerns about angering core GOP voters.

• Politics & Government
• Immigration Issues
• Jeff Denham
• Barack Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. David Valadao says he’s not worried that Congress’ failure to pass immigration legislation will hurt his prospects for re-election to a district in California’s agricultural heartland. Same goes for GOP Rep. Jeff Denham, who represents a neighboring district in the state’s San Joaquin Valley.

Still, the California congressmen are making sure voters know they support an immigration overhaul. They’re aware that Democrats will try to turn the congressional gridlock into an advantage during this year’s midterm elections.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $300,000 on television ads in Valadao’s district, noting that he is the son of immigrants. Denham highlights an award he received from the nation’s largest Latino advocacy group for “putting sound immigration policy over party politics.” He was the first Republican co-sponsor of a sweeping immigration bill now stalled in the House.

“People have seen I’ve shown real leadership in driving this issue forward,” Denham said.

Sounding a lot like Democrats, some Republican members of California’s congressional delegation are making the case that changing the law is necessary to help farmers and businesses and to keep families together. But they also are members of a party that has stifled immigration-overhaul efforts, providing a political opening for Democrats in a state where immigrants are a crucial underpinning of the economy.

A recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that about 7 in 10 Hispanics say it’s important that new immigration legislation pass this year. And a California Field Poll last year found that 9 in 10 California voters support allowing immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally to stay and become citizens if they work, learn English and pay back taxes.

Valadao, Denham and about a dozen other Republican lawmakers nationally are in districts that have a sizeable and growing Latino population. Latinos make up more than half of the registered voters in Valadao’s district and about a quarter in Denham’s.

Immigration also could play a role in a handful of open seats around the country, including those in Southern California now held by outgoing Republican Reps. Gary Miller and Buck McKeon. Latino voters make up a third of the electorate in Miller’s district, and 1 in 5 voters in McKeon’s. Democrats have made both seats a priority.

Valadao and Denham are in competitive districts and are targets for Democrats, who need to win 17 seats to win control of the House.

“My constituents understand I’ve been in the middle of it,” Valadao said. “I’ve been vocal. I’ve signed onto legislation. I continue to put pressure on the leadership.”

Democrats are questioning just how dedicated Valadao and Denham are, noting they declined to sign a petition that would have forced House Speaker John Boehner to schedule a vote on an immigration bill. No Republican joined the effort.

“They pay lip service to comprehensive immigration reform, but they refuse to lift a pen to sign the discharge petition to force a vote,” said Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Valadao’s opponents also cite his 2011 vote while he served in the state Assembly that opposed the California Dream Act, which allows immigrants in California without legal permission to get privately funded scholarships to attend the state’s public universities. Another provision allows immigrants to qualify for state financial aid to attend college.

“If there’s anything that affects the kids in the Central Valley, the undocumented dreamers in the Central Valley, it’s the California Dream Act that he opposed,” said Amanda Renteria, Valadao’s chief Democratic opponent.

Valadao spokeswoman Anna Vetter said the congressman voted against the legislation because he believes immigration is a federal issue. Further, he supports a path to citizenship for the so-called dreamers, she said.

Next week, Denham plans to introduce an amendment that would allow people to enlist in the armed forces as a way to become legal permanent residents, a move House Majority Leader Eric Cantor promises to block.

“There are those of us who have to do a greater job of championing and being vocal on the issue,” Denham said. “My concern is that there is a very vocal minority in our conference that likes to say crazy and outlandish things that get picked up by the media.”

Denham’s leading Democratic opponent, almond farmer Michael Eggman, said it would be better for Democrats to control the House if voters want immigration reform. He said the GOP leadership will not bring up an overhaul bill unless it’s forced to, as the failed petition would have done.

“If you don’t sign the petition, you’re really not committed to immigration reform,” Eggman said.

Denham said he wants to work through the committee process while Valadao calls the petition a stunt.

Even if the California Republicans say they support changes to immigration law, Israel said it signals a lack of effectiveness that they can’t get more Republicans to join them. Denham and Valadao counter that an immigration overhaul didn’t happen even when Democrats controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2008-09.

• Politics & Government
• Immigration Issues
• Jeff Denham
• David Valadao
• California
• Democrats
• California

By Barbara Liston

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – Immigration officials are reviewing the case of Cuban-born U.S. Army veteran Mario Hernandez, who discovered he was not a U.S. citizen decades after he believed he had been naturalized when he enlisted during the Vietnam War era, a spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said on Friday.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Hernandez’s lawyer Elizabeth Ricci believed the agency was preparing a criminal case against Hernandez rather than trying to resolve his citizenship problem.

Hernandez, 58, found out while applying for a passport in 2013 that he was not a U.S. citizen. He came to the United States from Cuba with his family as a 9-year-old. He believed he was naturalized in 1975 when he enlisted during the Vietnam War era and was taken by recruiters before what he understood to be an immigration judge.

He now says the military failed to correctly process his naturalization paperwork.

After an honorable discharge, Hernandez worked for multiple state and federal agencies that conducted background checks that failed to uncover any citizenship problems.

Ricci received a telephone call Wednesday from the immigration services office offering a meeting for next Wednesday to discuss his case, according to her spokesman.

“We are currently reviewing Mr. Hernandez’s case and will meet with him and his attorney to further discuss his application,” Christopher Bentley, a spokesman for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in an emailed statement.

Hernandez applied for citizenship in March, but was denied by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Ricci filed an appeal, after which the agency asked Hernandez to provide a sworn statement concerning when, where, how and why Hernandez claimed to be a U.S. citizen, including his voting records.

Ricci said the information would pertain to a criminal prosecution rather than an attempt to correct his legal status.

Ricci said she previously represented two other clients with similar experiences in the military.

“I suspect there are hundreds if not thousands of cases like this around the country,” Ricci said. “I think more people will hear his case and say, ‘hey, I never did get that naturalization paperwork.’”

(Editing by David Adams. Editing by Andre Grenon)

• Politics & Government
• Immigration Issues
• Mario Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican leaders intervened Friday to prevent a vote on U.S. immigration legislation, dealing a severe blow to election-year efforts to overhaul the dysfunctional system.

The move came after a Republican congressman announced plans to try to force a vote next week, over strong conservative opposition, on his measure creating a path to citizenship for immigrants who were brought illegally to the U.S. as children and serve in the military.

Rep. Jeff Denham labeled his bill the ENLIST Act and said he would seek a vote as an amendment to the popular annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

In response, Doug Heye, spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, said: “No proposed ENLIST amendments to NDAA will be made in order.”

Heye said no stand-alone vote on the measure would be permitted, either.

It was the latest setback for President Barack Obama’s efforts to move comprehensive immigration legislation through Congress to boost border security, remake legal worker programs and offer legal status to the estimated 11.5 million people now living here illegally. The Senate passed an immigration bill last year, but it’s been stalled in the Republican-led House.

Cantor, House Speaker John Boehner and other House Republican leaders have insisted they want to advance immigration legislation, though they’ve rejected the Senate’s comprehensive bill. Chances have always looked slim, but the White House and outside advocates saw a window for action over the next several months, before Congress’ August recess and November midterm elections.

Friday’s developments seemed to all but rule out anything happening on the issue this year in the House, if even Denham’s limited measure could not advance. Despite a wide coalition of business, labor, religious groups, farmers and others pushing for an immigration overhaul, many individual Republican House members who represent largely white districts have been unmoved.

Denham’s measure was widely popular and seen as perhaps the likeliest area for compromise.

But in recent weeks prominent conservative groups, including the Heritage Foundation, announced their opposition. Heritage Action, the group’s political arm, announced it would include the vote in its ratings on lawmakers and called Denham’s legislation “deplorable.”

Cantor himself, who previously had supported offering a path to citizenship for immigrants brought illegally as children, faces a primary challenge in Virginia June 10 from a tea party opponent who has criticized the majority leader for not being conservative enough and accused him of supporting amnesty for immigrants living here illegally.

Dave Brat, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College, is a long-shot to unseat Cantor, but his campaign has won attention and support from conservative leaders such as radio host Laura Ingraham, partly because of his attacks against Cantor over immigration.

Asked Friday if Boehner disagreed with Cantor’s decision, Boehner’s spokesman, Michael Steel, said he did not.

Denham’s office had no immediate reaction to Cantor’s announcement. But in an interview beforehand, Denham, who has a competitive race in his heavily Latino district in central California, said he would keep pushing his legislation regardless of what leadership did.

“I am prepared for a long-term fight on this,” he said.

Denham’s bill would allow immigrants who were brought to this country on or before Dec. 31, 2011, and were younger than 15 years old to become legal, permanent residents — the first step toward citizenship — through honorable service in the military.

It was co-sponsored by 50 House members, 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans, but an outspoken minority was opposed. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, had warned that “all hell will break loose” if Denham tried to promote the measure.

The Senate could still revive the issue if the Senate Armed Services Committee includes the ENLIST Act in its own version of the defense policy bill, something Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat and the panel chairman, has indicated was possible.

• Politics & Government
• Government
• Jeff Denham

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican leaders intervened Friday to prevent a vote on immigration legislation, dealing a severe blow to election-year efforts to overhaul the dysfunctional system.

The move came after a Republican congressman from California announced plans to try to force a vote next week, over strong conservative opposition, on his measure creating a path to citizenship for immigrants who were brought illegally to the U.S. as children and serve in the military.

Rep. Jeff Denham labeled his bill the ENLIST Act and said he would seek a vote as an amendment to the popular annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

In response, Doug Heye, spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, said: “No proposed ENLIST amendments to NDAA will be made in order.”

Heye said no stand-alone vote on the measure would be permitted, either.

It was the latest setback for President Barack Obama’s efforts to move comprehensive immigration legislation through Congress to boost border security, remake legal worker programs and offer legal status to the estimated 11.5 million people now living here illegally. The Senate passed an immigration bill last year, but it’s been stalled in the GOP-led House.

Denham’s measure was widely popular and seen as perhaps the likeliest area for compromise.

But in recent weeks prominent conservative groups, including the Heritage Foundation, announced their opposition. Heritage Action, the group’s political arm, announced it would include the vote in its ratings on lawmakers and called Denham’s legislation “deplorable.”

Cantor himself, who previously had supported offering a path to citizenship for immigrants brought illegally as children, faces a primary challenge in Virginia June 10 from a tea party opponent who has criticized the majority leader for not being conservative enough and accused him of supporting amnesty for immigrants living here illegally.

Dave Brat, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College, is a long-shot to unseat Cantor, but his campaign has won attention and support from conservative leaders such as radio host Laura Ingraham, partly because of his attacks against Cantor over immigration.

Cantor, House Speaker John Boehner and other House GOP leaders have insisted they want to advance immigration legislation, though they’ve rejected the Senate’s comprehensive bill. Chances have always looked slim, but the White House and outside advocates saw a window for action over the next several months, before Congress’ August recess and November midterm elections.

Friday’s developments seemed to all but rule out anything happening on the issue this year in the House, if even Denham’s limited measure could not advance. Despite a wide coalition of business, labor, religious groups, farmers and others pushing for an immigration overhaul, many individual Republican House members who represent largely white districts have been unmoved.

Asked Friday if Boehner disagreed with Cantor’s decision, Boehner’s spokesman, Michael Steel, said he did not.

Denham’s office had no immediate reaction to Cantor’s announcement. But in an interview beforehand, Denham, who has a competitive race in his heavily Latino district in central California, said he would keep pushing his legislation regardless of what leadership did.

“I am prepared for a long-term fight on this,” he said.

Denham’s bill would allow immigrants who were brought to this country on or before Dec. 31, 2011, and were younger than 15 years old to become legal, permanent residents — the first step toward citizenship — through honorable service in the military.

It was co-sponsored by 50 House members, 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans, but an outspoken minority was opposed. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., had warned that “all hell will break loose” if Denham tried to promote the measure.

The Senate could still revive the issue if the Senate Armed Services Committee includes the ENLIST Act in its own version of the defense policy bill, something Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the panel chairman, has indicated was possible.

• Politics & Government
• Immigration Issues
• Jeff Denham

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican leaders intervened Friday to prevent a vote on U.S. immigration legislation, dealing a severe blow to election-year efforts to overhaul the widely denigrated system.

The move came after a Republican congressman announced plans to try to force a vote next week, over strong conservative opposition, on his measure creating a path to citizenship for immigrants who live here illegally yet serve in the military.

Rep. Jeff Denham labeled his bill the ENLIST Act and said he would seek a vote as an amendment to the popular annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

In response, Doug Heye, spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, said: “No proposed ENLIST amendments to NDAA will be made in order.”

Heye said no stand-alone vote on the measure would be permitted, either.

It was the latest setback for President Barack Obama’s efforts to move comprehensive immigration legislation through Congress to boost border security, remake legal worker programs and offer legal status to the estimated 11.5 million people now living here illegally. The Senate passed an immigration bill last year, but it’s been stalled in the Republican-led House.

Friday’s developments seemed to all but rule out anything happening on the issue this year in the House, if even Denham’s limited measure could not advance. Despite a wide coalition of business, labor, religious groups, farmers and others pushing for an immigration overhaul, many individual Republican House members who represent largely white districts have been unmoved.

Cantor, House Speaker John Boehner and other House Republican leaders have insisted they want to advance immigration legislation, though they’ve rejected the Senate’s comprehensive bill. Chances have always looked slim, but the White House and outside advocates saw a window for action over the next several months, before Congress’ August recess and November midterm elections.

Denham’s measure was widely popular and seen as perhaps the likeliest area for compromise.

But in recent weeks prominent conservative groups, including the Heritage Foundation, announced their opposition. Heritage Action, the group’s political arm, announced it would include the vote in its ratings on lawmakers and called Denham’s legislation “deplorable.”

Cantor himself faces a primary election challenge in the state of Virginia June 10 from a tea party opponent who has criticized the majority leader for not being conservative enough and accused him of supporting amnesty for immigrants living here illegally.

Dave Brat, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College, is a long-shot to unseat Cantor, but his campaign has won attention and support from conservative leaders such as radio host Laura Ingraham, partly because of his attacks against Cantor over immigration.

Denham’s office had no immediate reaction to Cantor’s announcement. But in an interview beforehand, Denham, who has a competitive race in his heavily Latino district in central California, said he would keep pushing his legislation regardless of what leadership did.

“I am prepared for a long-term fight on this,” he said.

Denham’s bill would allow immigrants who were brought to this country on or before Dec. 31, 2011, and were younger than 15 years old to become legal, permanent residents — the first step toward citizenship — through honorable service in the military.

It was co-sponsored by 50 House members, 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans, but an outspoken minority was opposed. Rep. Mo Brooks, a Republican, had warned that “all hell will break loose” if Denham tried to promote the measure.

The Senate could still revive the issue if the Senate Armed Services Committee includes the ENLIST Act in its own version of the defense policy bill, something Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat, the panel chairman, has indicated was possible.

• Politics & Government
• Government
• Jeff Denham