Since 2013, a large and unknown number of U.S. military veterans have been deported after serving in the armed forces. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) has not been consistently following its own policies related to U.S. veteran immigrants who were placed in removal proceedings. A large portion of these deportations occurred due to ICE not following its own protocols as it relates to identifying veteran privilege during deportation proceedings.
This is a problem that has plagued hundreds of U.S. veterans who have served in the military, a number of whom have suffered injuries or are enduring PTSD. The underlying problem with these deportations is the lack of humanity and reciprocation from the government to take care of those who defended America’s interests.
Attorney Eric Price has worked with a diverse array of families for over a decade. Each family’s situation is different, and Attorney Eric Price knows how to investigate and help you with your case. If you or a loved one is facing immigration challenges, contact Attorney Eric Price today at info@abogadoericprice.com or 855-662-2772.
Why Were Thousands of U.S. Veterans Deported?
ICE has failed to follow its veteran status tracking system when going through with deportation proceedings. ICE is supposed to take veteran status into consideration when deliberating on who to prioritize when it comes to deportation. Due to inaccurately tracking these statuses, the agency also does not have an accurate number of how many veterans have actually been deported.
There is a contingency of veterans who have been deported because they were identified after committing certain felonies. Many of these veterans have suffered serious injuries and struggle with PTSD. Mental illness and lack of access to rehabilitation is a leading cause in criminal behavior and recidivism. The mental and physical battle wounds that these veterans face as a result of their service, which has placed them in challenging circumstances, should not result in their deportation.
The Trump administration provided more resources and directives for ICE to initiate deportation proceedings. One additional directive was the revocation of the Parole in Place protection that was afforded to immigrant service member’s families; under Parole in Place, family members were protected from deportation but this protection was revoked. The Trump administration’s enthusiasm for deportations resulted in an increased number of immigrant veterans being forced back to countries they were not familiar with.
In 2018, halfway through the Trump administration, the Texas Civil Rights Project released a report estimating that approximately 3,000 veteran immigrants had been deported over the last few years. However, this issue has been occurring prior to the Trump administration, too; unfortunately, his directives exacerbated the situation.
The Aftermath
Presently, hundreds and possibly thousands of veterans have been forced back into their countries of origin. Despite being countries of origin, many of these veterans do not speak the native language, have little to no friends or family, and are also enduring the hardships that accompany PTSD and combat injuries.
In Mexico, there is a location in Tijana known as “The Bunker.” It is a location that provides support to immigrant veterans who have been deported. It is here that veterans who are struggling with mental and physical injuries can find support among one another. This support group tries to keep deported U.S. veterans healthy and connected to other veterans who have endured the same fate.
The veterans who have been deported also do not have access to the many resources and healthcare opportunities that are afforded to veterans on U.S. soil. This only worsens the already existing symptoms that these veterans face. Allowing veterans to suffer overseas without any benefits that they earned is an inhumane way to treat these service members who have already sacrificed a lot for America.
What is President Biden’s Plan for Bringing Back Deported Veterans?
Initially, President Biden attempted to halt deportations for 100 days. However, this was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in Texas. During his campaign, Biden did address bringing back deported U.S. veterans in town hall meetings and official statements. Biden’s plan for deported veterans includes directing the Department of Homeland Security to create a parole process for veterans who were deported due to their criminal record.
Many of these deportations happened under the Trump administration, and President Biden has expressed a strong sentiment to reunite deported veterans with their families in the U.S. Additionally, President Biden has received congressional support from Sen. Duckworth and Rep. Takano, and others, to develop a plan that will bring back deported veterans. In order for a plan to be quickly implemented, it is necessary for the executive and legislative branch to agree on policy positions.
What are the Next Steps?
The next steps involve waiting for an actual executive order or legislation that requires the Department of Homeland Security to plan for bringing back deported U.S. veterans. The goal has received support from congress members in both chambers, which is a positive indicator of future success. However, it is not a guarantee that President Biden’s goal will be accomplished. It also depends on whether the judicial branch or vestiges from the Trump administration will cause delays to implementing the plans.
Regardless of when a plan is revealed or implemented, Attorney Eric Price stands ready to help U.S. veterans who have been unjustly deported. Attorney Eric Price recognizes the value and sacrifice that immigrant veterans have made in their service to America, and is willing to guide families and veterans through the process of trying to return them back to U.S. soil.
Contact Attorney Eric Price Today!
Attorney Eric Price has worked in immigration law under numerous presidential administrations. He is familiar with the changes that come on a regular basis to immigration law. As a result, Attorney Eric Price will be able to stay well-informed as it relates to your unique immigration law situation. Contact Attorney Eric Price at info@abogadoericprice.com or 855-662-2772 for additional information and guidance.
