Thu, April 09, 2009
WASHINGTON – New York's senators said Wednesday they plan to ask Congress to grant citizenship posthumously to victims of Friday's shooting in Binghamton, N.Y.
Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said that under legislation they are proposing, the honorary citizenship would be backdated so the victims would be considered citizens at the time of death.
They note in a statement that many of the 13 victims were striving to become citizens and studying English when they were killed by the gunman, and they came from a wide range of countries including Brazil, China, Haiti, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam.
"We hope to honor the lives of those who were working so hard to become citizens and achieve the American dream," Gillibrand said.
The shooting occurred in an immigration center in upstate New York. It's not known exactly how many of them were citizens.
Because the citizenship would be honorary, family members seeking citizenship or visas would not be affected.
(Agencies)
