From Immigrant to Citizen: Marine Supports the Southern Border Mission

NACO, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES

07.10.2026

Story by Cpl. Destiny Perez 

Operation Ardent Vanguard   

NACO, Ariz. – Born in Argentina and raised partly in Bolivia, Lance Cpl. Ignacio Amaya recently achieved a life-changing milestone. Taking the Oath of Allegiance, he became a U.S. citizen while deployed in support of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) mission, which provides unique military capabilities to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enhance security at the southern border and ensure the territorial integrity of the homeland.

Assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Amaya serves as an engineer assistant. His responsibilities include conducting critical engineer surveys for future road improvement projects and reinforcing the southern barrier with concertina wire.

Amaya’s journey began much further south of where he is now working with his fellow Marines to help strengthen border infrastructure. He lived in Argentina for the first 10 years of his life before moving with his family to Bolivia. While he grew up surrounded by tight-knit communities, the prospect of a new beginning eventually drew him north. His father had immigrated to the United States nearly two decades prior and offered the teenage Amaya the chance to join him in Maryland — an opportunity Amaya eagerly accepted.

The move to Maryland came with an immediate challenge: a steep language barrier. Amaya tackled it by enrolling in college English classes and working in catering delivery, which forced him to learn the language quickly. Once he established his footing in his new home, he began looking for a deeper purpose beyond traditional schooling and his day job.

Although the military wasn’t initially part of his plan, this search for a new direction eventually led him to a joint recruiting station. Intrigued by the Marine Corps' history and reputation, Amaya researched the branch, read about its storied legacy and decided he wanted to take on the challenge.

While serving at the southern border in support of JTF-SB, Amaya completed the final steps of his naturalization process, which began in November 2025. Balancing mission requirements with immigration appointments required close coordination with his command. His leadership fully supported him in making the two-to-three-hour drives to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices for appointments.

"Lance Cpl. Amaya is an exceptional Marine who brings a relentless work ethic to our mission every day," said 1st Lt. Daniel Madden, Amaya's platoon commander. "Watching him balance the demands of this border deployment while becoming a U.S. citizen has been incredibly inspiring for our entire unit."

Taking the oath in Phoenix alongside his father was a powerful experience for Amaya, made even more meaningful by the presence of several members of his unit who were there to support him.

"I was so nervous at that time because it's not something I can take as normal," Amaya said. "Doing the oath was something special for me."

Amaya’s achievement is part of a larger family triumph. Just a week before his naturalization, his family members received their Permanent Resident Cards, and his brothers are now looking to serve in the U.S. military as well.

For Amaya, reinforcing the border of his new country is a full-circle experience.

"Securing the border now that I'm a citizen; it feels good," he said. "I feel proud of the things that I did, just because I came to this country, became part of the military, and now I'm here securing the border. It feels amazing."

Now, as he stands on the southern border conducting barrier reinforcement and engineer surveys for future projects, Amaya is no longer just executing a mission — he is helping secure his own country as one of its newest citizens.

• Date Taken: 07.10.2026
• Date Posted: 07.14.2026 14:30
• Story ID: 569747
• Location: NACO, ARIZONA, US