In 2008 the MAVNI recruitment program of the U.S. Department of Defense went into effect to enlist into the U.S. military services legal U.S. non-immigrants who were critical health care professionals or had critical language skills. The program offered U.S. Citizenship to desirable recruits in exchange for serving in the Military. Those recruited were to become U.S. citizens at the end of their Basic Combat Training. Under the MAVNI program the U.S. Department of Defense recruited the U.S. Army Soldier of the year 2012, and graduates of top U.S. Universities. In 2016 the MAVNI program was paused because a Pentagon official felt foreign recruits were suspicious. The U.S. Department of Defense is now providing waivers to native citizens that have criminal records to satisfy the needs of the U.S. Military Services. Many MAVNI recruits cannot get through background checks, because having foreign parents is equated to having foreign ties that make them ineligible to serve! Now those enlisted cannot complete Basic Combat Training and may never become citizens. Many are at risk of being deported to a country, where they may be tortured or persecuted because they have joined the U.S. Army. One possible solution for such MAVNI recruits is to apply for Asylum and/or protection under the U.N. Convention Against Torture.