Pentagon to Scrutinize Recruits with Green Cards and Other Foreign Ties

• 01.17.2019, 17:16
•  America,  World

NATO / Sgt. Joe Parrish

The Pentagon, citing terrorism and espionage fears, is developing a plan to scrutinize prospective recruits with foreign ties, including some U.S. citizens, after a related effort targeting thousands of green-card holders was blocked by a federal judge last year, The Washington Post reports.

The new policy, still in development, will be distributed to the military services by no later than Feb. 15, according to two Defense Department officials and several department memos obtained by The Washington Post. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity.

The new vetting is likely to screen thousands of recruits per year who have what the Pentagon considers "foreign nexus" risks, including some Americans who marry a foreign spouse or who have family members with dual citizenship, the memos said. Anyone identified for the screening would not be allowed to attend recruit training until they are cleared, a process that could take days for some but drag on much longer for others.