Senator Amy Klobuchar

Working for the People of Minnesota

Press Contact

Joel Gross
Press Secretary
(202) 224-3244

News Releases

Klobuchar Helps National Guard Member Become U.S. Citizen

Soldier Will Now Be Able to Deploy to Iraq with Her Unit on Feb. 10

February 6, 2009

Minneapolis, MN – Thanks to assistance from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a staff sergeant in the Minnesota National Guard will be sworn in as a new U.S. citizen this weekend, which will allow her to deploy to Iraq on February 10 with the 34th Red Bull Infantry.

(The naturalization ceremony is at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, in the Best Buy rotunda at the Mall of America.  The public ceremony is part of the annual Government on Display Expo.)

Heike Lewandowski, born and raised in Germany, contacted Klobuchar’s office last month about her pending petition for U.S. citizenship, which she needed in order to deploy to Iraq with her Guard unit.  She filed her petition for citizenship in December as soon as she learned about the expected deployment.  However, the normal processing time for a citizenship petition is a year or more.

Highlighting Lewandowski’s special situation, Klobuchar requested expedited processing of her petition by the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

Lewandowski was notified on Thursday (February 5) that her petition was approved.
“It was a true privilege to assist Staff Sergeant Lewandowski in securing her citizenship so she could deploy overseas with the Red Bulls,” said Klobuchar.  “As a National Guard member for the past eight years, she was already doing her duty for our country.  Now it’s officially her country, too.”

"This would not have been possible without Senator Klobuchar,” Lewandowski said. “She got fast action when I really needed it."

Lewandowski met her husband, a Minnesota native, when he was stationed in Germany.  She moved to the U.S. in 1998 and joined the National Guard in 2000.  Her husband is also a Guard member, and both work at Camp Ripley.  They live in Long Prairie. 

“My office has a great professional team,” said Klobuchar.  “Every day, we help Minnesotans deal with federal agencies when they have personal issues with veterans’ benefits, Social Security and the like.  It may not be as well known as our policy and legislative work, but it means everything to the people we serve.”
 
NOTE: Heike Lewandowski’s first name is pronounced “High-ka.”

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