We must give credit where credit is due, even when we know there is an ulterior motive in the action
House Dems go to Mexico to help deported vets
A contingent of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, led my Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M. will travel to Tijuana, Mexico Saturday to speak with a group of deported veterans in hopes of streamlining the pathway to citizenship for non-citizens who have served in the U.S. military.
There are an estimated 230 non-U.S. citizen veterans who have been deported, according to a 2016 report by The American Civil Liberties Union.
“We need to do more than just promise veterans a fast track to citizenship after their military service,†said Lujan Grisham. “We need to do everything possible to help them apply, while also supporting them and their families to the highest degree possible.â€
Representatives Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, Lou Correa , D-Calif., Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, D-Texas, Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., Juan Vargas, D-Calif., and Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-Calif., will accompany Lujan to meet with 20-30 deported veterans and family members at the Deported Veterans Support House in Tijuana.
If you read the ACLU report, a goodly chunk of these veterans were deported during the Obama years. Some of them served their time, then found themselves in trouble with the law, which put them on ICE’s radar.
“Many lawful permanent resident service members are told by recruiters that they can quickly gain citizenship for themselves and their family after serving honorably,†said Lujan Grisham. “However, they are not advised that citizenship is not granted automatically and that they must actively seek citizenship through the standard, although expedited, application process.†(snip)
“The process of becoming a citizen is voluntary and controlled by USCIS,†said Lt. Col. Myles Caggins, spokesman, Department of Defense. “Not all vets choose to become citizens.â€
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offers a generous pathway for veteran immigrants to receive legal citizenship, especially if the veteran served in combat. But as Caggins said, not all choose to take advantage of the opportunity. This could then put their legal status in jeopardy.
They do need to make the choice to go through the process to become citizens. However, we should be taking better care of those who came here illegally or legally and chose to serve in our armed forces, putting their lives on the line for the nation. Read the rest of the article.
