HARLINGEN — Across Mexico’s border, hundreds of U.S. military veterans struggle through stranded lives after their deportations from the country for which they fought for freedom.
For five years, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, District 34’s newly elected congressman, said he has worked to help some deported veterans come back home to claim the lives and benefits they lost.
Last week, Gonzalez, with U.S. Reps. J. Luis Correa, D-Calif., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., introduced the Repatriate Our Patriots Act — legislation aimed at opening a path to citizenship for deported veterans.
“Anyone who has put on the uniform and swore an oath to protect the Constitution does not deserve to be expelled from the very country they were defending,” Gonzalez stated upon the bill’s introduction Wednesday. “It is disgraceful that we have stood by as a country and continue to allow this to happen. It is time to bring these heroes home and ensure that those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms have a pathway to citizenship.”
The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Brad Sherman, D-Calif.; Maria Salazar, R-Fla.; Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas; Bill Foster, D-Ill.; James McGovern, D-Mass.; Henry Cuellar, D-Texas; Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.; Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.; Joe Neguse, D-Colo.; Mike Levin, D-Calif.; and Juan Vargas, D-Calif.
ADVOCATE FOR DEPORTED VETERANS
Since he took office in 2017, he has been pushing for the legislation while working with governors to help bring back deported veterans who were honorably discharged, Gonzalez said.
“I’ve been pushing this since I got to Congress,” he said during an interview last week.
In 2017, 2019 and 2021, Gonzalez introduced the legislation before Republicans stopped its passage, James Rivera, his press secretary, stated.
“It’s a bill that should be bipartisan,” Gonzalez said. “I can’t think of anything more shameful as to deport someone who has worn our uniform and fought for our freedom. It’s a real black eye for our government.”
CUT OFF FROM BENEFITS
For years, the government has betrayed the veterans it has deported, Gonzalez said.
Many deported veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are struggling without medical care after their deportations cut them off from their benefits, he said.
“We breached our contract with them,” he said. “When you’re honorably discharged, you have access to education, health care and the GI Bill. When they’re deported, they lose their benefits.”
STRANDED LIVES
In 1996, a Republican-controlled Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act, signed by then-President Bill Clinton, making legal permanent residents deportable upon convictions for aggravated felonies.
Among those deported were veterans, many suffering from PTSD.
Across Mexico’s border, most are struggling to make new lives in the country from which their families bought them to the United States.
“Most came here as kids,” Gonzalez said.
In Tijuana, Gonzalez has met with a deported veterans’ group which helps others learn to piece their lives together away from the country they defended in war.
Just south of San Diego, the Deported Veterans Support House has helped draw deported veterans to the largest city on the border, with a population of 1.8 million.
“These folks were here legally, with legal status,” Gonzalez said. “They’re green card holders. Some are highly decorated Purple Heart recipients.”
SUPPORTING DEPORTED VETERANS
While serving in the military or upon their honorable discharge, veterans with legal residency status can apply for citizenship.
But too many fail to sign up.
“When you’re in a foxhole in Iraq or Afghanistan, the last thing that’s on your mind is filling out paperwork to become a citizen,” Gonzalez said.
Since he took office in 2021, President Joe Biden has called for the return of deported veterans.
“Biden has been very receptive,” Gonzalez said, referring to the president’s support of his bill.
In 2021, Biden ordered immigration courts consider veterans’ military service when ruling over deportations.
“I think it’s a pretty powerful argument,” Gonzalez said. “It should be the law that veterans not be deported.”
BACKGROUND
Under the Gonzalez’s legislation, deported veterans who were honorably discharged or released would go through the naturalization process abroad, with the exception of those convicted of crimes such as voluntary manslaughter, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse and terrorism.
The legislation would also order the attorney general to cancel or rescind removal orders affecting eligible veterans, changing their status to legal permanent residents.
The bill would also require the secretary of Homeland Security to create a program and application procedure allowing eligible veterans removed prior to the bill’s enactment to lawfully return to the United States, becoming admitted as permanent residents.
