Deported Veterans Served US But Cannot Come Back Home

Rep. Gallego: Deported veterans served their country but they can't come home
The Republic
Daniel González
April 21, 2016

"These men and women who served our country, sacrificed time, sweat and blood for our country are told don’t come back until you are dead," said Gallego, an Iraq War veteran. "That is something we just cannot allow to happen."

Hector Barajas, 39, folds an American flag to be placed with the remains of a deported veteran who died in Mexico. The remains were allowed to be returned to the U.S. for burial. The flag presentation before Cesar Medrano (right)took Spc. Chaides' remains back to U.S. soil. (Photo: Photo courtesy of Cesar Medrano and Hector Barajas)

Legislation proposed to help some of the hundreds of soldiers convicted of crimes to return to this country

Sometimes, the only way a deported military veteran can get back into the United States is in a casket.

U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said these former soldiers, often convicted of crimes related to their service, are stripped of all their military benefits, except one: the right to be buried in a U.S. veterans cemetery.

He and other Democratic members of Congress are trying to change that for some deported vets.

Gallego introduced a bill Wednesday that asks the Department of Homeland Security to set up a process that would allow deported veterans who have not been convicted of felonies or serious misdemeanors to apply to return to the U.S. The legislation also would protect veterans not convicted of serious crimes from being deported in the future.
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