Vietnam veterans fighting deportation?

Local Vietnam veterans still fighting deportation

by Matt Stafford
Updated: Jun 11, 2011

Manuel says more than 3,000 veterans have been deported since 1996. The Valenzuelas are trying to help all of them.

Although they've been to court four times, Manuel and Valente Valenzuela -- both Vietnam veterans -- are still fighting deportation issues. NF5 first spoke with the two veterans a year ago, and now Manuel says not much has changed.

"They still have a deportation issue on us," says Manuel.

The Valenzuelas are still arguing against the deportation with the same point.

"Due to my mother being a born-American mother, we're American citizens," explains Manuel. He says that it was a misdemeanor charge from 25 years ago that the government was using to deport him; he says it was a similar issue for his brother, Valente.

Immigration Services couldn't talk to us about the Valenzuela's case, but they say you can lose legal status for committing a crime.

"If you are here on some sort of a temporary status, and you commit certain crimes, you lose that status," says Tim Count, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

So Manuel and his brother continue to fight, but as they do they're finding disturbing news; lots of other veterans have been in the same situation.

"I have files and files of paperwork here," says Manuel. "It is, it's a shame."


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Vietnam veterans still fighting deportation