Deported U.S. Veterans Feel Abandoned By The Country They Defended

[babylonsister]

Deported U.S. Veterans Feel Abandoned By The Country They Defended
Maria Ines Zamudio
June 21, 2019

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

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Pérez is among hundreds of veterans who have been deported in recent years. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report revealed that an estimated 92 veterans were deported from 2013 to 2018. But the numbers are far higher, according to groups of deported veterans.

The GAO report also found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “did not consistently follow its policies involving veterans who were placed in removal proceedings.”

Those policies include considering a veteran’s military service during removal proceedings. But Nicole Alberico, an ICE spokeswoman, said Pérez’s military service was taken into consideration when he was deported.

“Any action taken by ICE that may result in the removal of an individual with military service must be authorized by the senior leadership in the field office following an evaluation by local counsel,” Alberico said in a written statement. “Still, applicable law requires ICE to mandatorily detain and process for removal individuals who have been convicted of aggravated felonies.”

The U.S. Army declined to comment. A spokesperson said they don’t comment on specific cases.

Once deported, these veterans have been forced to organize and to help each other. Many say they’ve been forced to live in exile without medical care for the injuries they sustained in war. They’ve been deported to countries that feel foreign to them. It’s been decades since they’ve lived there, and some don’t even know the language.

more...

https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/deported-veterans/4bfad4a2-2407-42f2-9bf4-243fdad21510?fbclid=IwAR3_s7VP0oxZgKC_xDsh70_CrhYODyshVR4vdErD3RZU-Pz8EH9KZ6xZaFs

[Kath2]

1. Makes me ashamed to be a citizen of this country.

[democratisphere]

2. Me too.

Nothing more disturbing and disgusting.

[Kath2]

3. Actually, it makes me even MORE ashamed than I already am.

How can anyone be a "proud American" with what is going on?

[democratisphere]

6. Can't.

[mountain grammy]

4. unbelievably sad and shameful..

[Docreed2003]

5. Disgusting and shameful

[Kid Berwyn]

7. In what branch did President Bone Spurs serve?

Don, Jr? Eric?

[Kath2]

8. Is there a pussy grabbing branch?

Touching women against their will?

[DFW]

9. Trump's version of "USA"

Ungrateful Society of Assholes

How can ANYONE even contemplate doing this to vets who have worn our uniform and risked their lives to defend it?

I guess you just have to be a Republican to know the answer to that, because I sure don't.