Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

They served in the U.S. military and hoped for citizenship. Then they got deported.
www.washingtonpost.com ^ | 6/3/17 | Roxana Popescu

Posted on 06/04/2017 3:20:46 PM PDT by BBell

TIJUANA, MEXICO — Rep. Juan Vargas, a California Democrat whose district runs the length of the state’s border with Mexico, introduced a set of bills last fall aimed at helping U.S. military veterans who were deported after they were convicted of crimes. The bills stalled, casualties of what he called bad timing during the presidential campaign.

Vargas reintroduced the bills last week, because now he sees “a real opportunity.” He and six other Democratic members of Congress spent Saturday in this Mexican border town visiting deported veterans to press the issue, thinking that President Trump might be receptive to the argument that they are veterans first and deportees second.

These veterans, who agreed to serve in the U.S. military in exchange for a chance at U.S. citizenship, sit at the intersection of an issue with broad bipartisan interest — the treatment of those who fought for the nation — and immigration, an issue that resonates with the Democratic base.

“Hopefully someone in the administration, this time, will say, ‘We’re doing such a horrible job. The world hates us now. This is something we can do that’s positive,” Vargas said in an interview, noting that the administration has been mired in bad news and that the previous White House failed to take up the issue. “It’s a good opportunity for them to do something unambiguously positive: to help veterans.”

Vargas and his delegation brought their message Saturday to the Deported Veterans Support House in northern Tijuana. Here, they met with veterans who served but then had problems before they obtained full citizenship, finding themselves ejected from the United States after running afoul of the law.

Hector Barajas, who is leading an effort to get his peers back into the United States, made his case in front of the delegation and reporters. Barajas was deported

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Society
KEYWORDS: biglie; citizenship; criminals; deported; usmilitary
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-90 next last
If you served honorably you ought to rate a citizenship.

It is mentioned farther down the article that they should have applied for their citizenship while they were serving.

1 posted on 06/04/2017 3:20:46 PM PDT by BBell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BBell
> If you served honorably you ought to rate a citizenship.

I second the motion ...

2 posted on 06/04/2017 3:23:18 PM PDT by SecondAmendment (Restoring our Republic at 9.8357x10^8 FPS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell
Here, they met with veterans who served but then had problems before they obtained full citizenship, finding themselves ejected from the United States after running afoul of the law.
3 posted on 06/04/2017 3:24:04 PM PDT by stylin19a
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

I don’t understand how or why foreign nationals could become members of the US military - aren’t there concerns about security and dual allegiances? But if they did so and if they served honorably, I do think they should have a chance to become US citizens over the many illegals who’ve been granted amnesty.


4 posted on 06/04/2017 3:26:08 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Should have applied, should have not committed crimes but did neither. Tough spit, bye.

There are conditions and they didnt meet the terms. They had what was owed them in return for their service and messed it up. The blame and consequence are theirs alone.

Bye.


5 posted on 06/04/2017 3:28:17 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (It feels like we have exchanged our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek

“don’t understand how or why foreign nationals could become members of the US military - aren’t there concerns about security and dual allegiances?”

A large number of US citizens are dual nationals. Many are not aware of their dual citizenship.


6 posted on 06/04/2017 3:30:02 PM PDT by Timpanagos1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BBell

These veterans were convicted of CRIMES before they were deported.


7 posted on 06/04/2017 3:30:33 PM PDT by Greensea
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

That is the framework,the government had in mind.


8 posted on 06/04/2017 3:31:20 PM PDT by Del Rapier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Greensea

And NEVER applied for citizenship.


9 posted on 06/04/2017 3:33:18 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (It feels like we have exchanged our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: BBell

deported... after they were convicted of crimes.


10 posted on 06/04/2017 3:33:43 PM PDT by arthurus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell
If you served honorably you ought to rate a citizenship.

I'll refine that a bit:

If you served at least one full enlistment term,never ran afoul of the UCMJ (including Article 15),and received an "honorable" discharge you deserve special consideration for citizenship.

But,if at any time after your discharge and while your Green Card/citizenship application is being considered,you're convicted of certain types of crimes...regardless of any ruling by the leftist judge or prosecutor involved in your case...OUT YOU GO!

11 posted on 06/04/2017 3:33:45 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables' Lives Matter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek

Gangs In The US Army Documentary 2017: SHOCKING GANGS IN THE MILITARY DOCUMENTARY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykwh1gySyrY


12 posted on 06/04/2017 3:33:47 PM PDT by donna (There are now roughly 3,200 mosques in America, nearly three times as many as there were in 2000.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Lee Harvey Oswald was a Marine.

Just sayin’...


13 posted on 06/04/2017 3:34:44 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Islamiphobia is a word created by fascists, and used by cowards, to manipulate morons.” Christopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: arthurus
deported... after they were convicted of crimes.

Exactly!

14 posted on 06/04/2017 3:35:00 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables' Lives Matter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative
Lee Harvey Oswald was a Marine.

He showed what one motivated Marine and his rifle can do.

15 posted on 06/04/2017 3:35:20 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: BBell
If you are a criminal, then you should be deported.

Serving in the military does not mean that we overlook your crimes after you are discharged.

16 posted on 06/04/2017 3:36:24 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Not a Romantic, not a hero worshiper and stop trying to tug my heartstrings. It tickles! (pink bow))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a

The moral of the story is that even if you served honorably in order to gain citizenship, don’t commit crimes before becoming a citizen.


17 posted on 06/04/2017 3:38:20 PM PDT by Parmy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative

Lee Harvey Oswald was a Marine.

Just sayin’...

Once a marine always a marine

Just Sayin


18 posted on 06/04/2017 3:38:25 PM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom Its a Joke friends)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative
Lee Harvey Oswald was a Marine.

True.And Tim McVeigh served in the Gulf.

I suspect that I'm not the only one who recognized a small percentage of guys they encountered while in uniform as guys you'd be wise to avoid whenever possible.

19 posted on 06/04/2017 3:38:36 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables' Lives Matter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Good one


20 posted on 06/04/2017 3:39:03 PM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom Its a Joke friends)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-90 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson