From about.com:

There are a number of categories of persons who are eligible to apply for United States citizenship. The changes implemented by the INS only apply to the following two categories of applicants:

a. Those who have been in the United States Armed Forces and have served for at least 3 years; (8 U.S.C. §1439) and

b. Those who have been in the United States Armed Forces and have served during periods of military hostilities. (8 U.S.C. §1440)

And:

In other words, beginning on 21 September, to a time yet to be announced, non-citizens on active duty can apply for citizenship with no further residency requirements.

So it looks like your friend is wrong, but I'd check the INS website for more corroboration.

Okay, I'm confused. So are we in a period of military hostilities? So as soon as you enlist and serve, you can apply for citizenship?

My friend who mentioned it teaches at a school with lots of immigrants/residents/illegal immigrants and where there is a ton of very active military recruiting. It was a student who had dropped out of high school to enlist who told her this. He said it was so he could support his mother and get citizenship.

So as soon as you enlist and serve, you can apply for citizenship.

The executive order:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440) (the "Act"), and solely in order to provide expedited naturalization for aliens and noncitizen nationals serving in an active-duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period of the war against terrorists of global reach, it is hereby ordered as follows:

For the purpose of determining qualification for the exception from the usual requirements for naturalization, I designate as a period in which the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force the period beginning on September 11, 2001. Such period will be deemed to terminate on a date designated by future Executive Order. Those persons serving honorably in active-duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States, during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and terminating on the date to be so designated, are eligible for naturalization in accordance with the statutory exception to the naturalization requirements, as provided in section 329 of the Act. Nothing contained in this order is intended to affect, nor does it affect, any other power, right, or obligation of the United States, its agencies, officers, employees, or any other person under Federal law or the law of nations.

So, basically, yup.

I also thought his casual use of slurs was kind of offensive, as if he relished being able to say them on-air

TOTALLY.

NO FUCKING WAY.

And yet, of two minds.

On the one hand, if we're going to send your ass to get killed, we sure better make it easy enough to become a citizen. I get that, I do.

BUT, as a recruiting tool? That seems so evil, because it's hugely enticing especially to a nominally unempowered demographic. Wow. I'm just... Wow.

ETA thanks, ita, for finding the info.

Oh, PS: In your FACE LA-istas. Guess who I just had pizza with?

I don't know, but Jesse is mean and taunty.

I'm with you on both minds, Kat.

Guess who I just had pizza with?

Stephen Colbert?

Brad really likes dresses...

Oh, PS: In your FACE LA-istas. Guess who I just had pizza with?

Stephen Colbert?

It'd better be him, hadn't it?