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A New Zealand-born man who served with the US Marine Corps for seven years and has spent three decades living in America is now facing deportation after losing a prolonged battle for citizenship.
Paul Canton was born in the Northland town of Warkworth in 1971, before his family moved toPerth, Australia, when he was aged 5.
He first arrived in the United States at age 17 but overstayed his student exchange visa and instead enlisted in the US Marines on March 29, 1991.
During his time with the US Marines, Canton spent a year in Okinawa, Japan, and came close to being deployed to Somalia in 1993.
Paul Canton enlisted in the US Marines on March 29, 1991. Photo / Supplied
He was awarded the National Defence Medal, Letter of Appreciation, Service Employment Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Rifle Marksman Badge while in service, Stuff reported earlier.
Canton said when he signed up to the US Marine Corps, his recruiter told him he would become a citizen after receiving an honourable discharge.
After leaving the Marines in 1998, Canton built his life in central Florida. He married, raised a family, and even voted before learning he had never actually become a citizen while applying for a new driver’s licence in 2019.
Canton had initially registered to vote by showing his official military service record and had voted eight times since 2004.
He hired a lawyer, and his case started moving through the courts.
After years of navigating the immigration system, Canton’s hope of continuing to reside in the place he called home was shattered last month.
A federal judge ruled that, despite Canton signing up for military service during the conflict, he did not qualify for citizenship because the conflict had ended by the time he entered active duty, according to a report by Military.com.
Deportation would see Canton return to his birthplace in New Zealand.
Paul Canton has spent three decades in the United States. Photo / Supplied
Immigration sponsorship from his wife or adult children, who are all US citizens, has also been ruled out as an option for Canton due to his voting in the past.
Canton maintained he had only voted previously because he believed he was already a citizen, Military.com reported.
His longtime attorney, Elizabeth Ricci, told Channel 9 that Canton’s only options are for a member of Congress to pass a special bill naturalising him or for the President to intervene.
When asked whether he felt he had fallen through the cracks of a larger system, Canton told Yahoo News it feels as though he had “been shoved through a crack”.
His family is now preparing for his deportation.
Canton said his service cannot be taken away from him.
“I have earned the title of United States Marine and they’re never going to take that from me,” he told Yahoo News.
Congressman Randy Fine has been in contact with Canton about his immigration case.
“My office is aware of Mr Canton’s situation, and we are working with our partners in the administration to determine what options may be available in light of the recent court decisions,” Fine said in a statement to Military.com.
“We will keep the constituent updated as we learn more.”
