Congressman Gonzalez Convenes Veteran Service Organizations and Members of Congress to Discuss Deported Veterans Legislation

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) met with Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41) and representatives from the: American Legion; Wounded Warrior Project; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Paralyzed Veterans of America; Disabled American Veterans; Vets for American Ideals; AMVETS; Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Military Order of the Purple Heart, to discuss a pressing issue that has affected so many of our nation's noncitizen veterans – deportation.

Last July, Congressman Gonzalez introduced a critical piece of bipartisan legislation that seeks to address this issue, H.R. 3429, the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, with Congressmen Don Young (AK-At Large) and Beto O'Rourke (TX-16). Wednesday's roundtable served to raise awareness about this issue and centered on how all parties could work together to bring these heroes home.

"It is a disgrace that we are deporting brave men and women who fought to protect us and it is my mission to right this wrong," Congressman Gonzalez said. "I feel positive that today's conversation was illuminating and productive, and that we were able to garner critical support for this bill. Together, we can pass this bipartisan piece of legislation, put these American heroes back on the path to citizenship, and ensure they regain access to the benefits they rightfully earned."

If passed, the Repatriate Our Patriots Act would allow deported veterans who were honorably discharged or released to go through the naturalization process abroad. This would exclude those who have been convicted of crimes such as voluntary manslaughter, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and/or terrorism.

Many of these honorably discharged veterans are highly decorated and all had clean records prior to serving. At the same time, many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other combat injuries incurred as a result of their service to the nation.

Congressman Gonzalez hopes the roundtable discussion will help build further bipartisan support and propel the legislation forward toward enactment.