Skip to main content

Congressman Gonzalez Urges President Trump to Honor His Promise and Protect Deported Veterans

April 17, 2018

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump regarding the deportation of U.S. Army veteran, Miguel Perez-Montes Jr., to Mexico. In his letter to President Trump, Congressman Gonzalez reminded the president about discussions the two had about the importance of protecting U.S. veterans in May and June of 2017.

"It is important that the President keeps his word and takes steps to bring our nation's heroes home," Congressman Gonzalez said. "I will not stand by as brave U.S. service members, who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country and freedoms, are deported. President Trump and his administration must honor the promises made to those who served in this country's military. I will not rest until the federal government repatriates patriots like Miguel Perez-Montes Jr."

In 2017, Congressman Gonzalez introduced H.R. 3429, the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, which would bring back deported veterans who held a clean record prior to service and restore their benefits. The congressman also wrote letters to every U.S. state governor urging them to exercise their executive privileges and pardon veterans deported from their home states.

Since Congressman Gonzalez's last meeting with President Trump, more U.S. veterans have been deported. Today, the congressman has called on the president to honor his word and reverse this unfortunate trend.

See the full letter below:

April 13, 2018

President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Trump:

I hope you are well. Today I write to you about the issue of deported veterans. I wanted to follow up since our dinner last year.

On two occasions last year, May 2, 2017, and June 12, 2017, we spoke in person at the White House about the unfair deportation of United States veterans. You acknowledged that deporting the honorable men and women who put their lives on the line for a country that had not yet given them the right to vote, was unconscionable. During the last meeting, a dinner at the White House with several Members of Congress, you pledged to support a bipartisan solution. Many of those veterans who have been deported, or are in the process of being deported as I write this letter, are eligible for United States citizenship. However, since our discussions, you have not taken action to help these heroes. In fact, your administration has reversed course and taken actions that harm them.

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service Policy Manual, Special Naturalization provisions apply to these veterans and all non-citizens serving in our military. Such provisions have applied to non-citizens serving in our military since at least the Civil War. Any servicemember serving since September 11, 2001 qualifies for the "periods of military hostilities" provision. As you may be aware, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order No. 13269 on July 3, 2002, declaring that a period of military hostilities had begun on September 11, 2001. This Executive Order, which remains in effect today, and the existing provisions should allow any non-citizen serving to apply for citizenship.

The Department of Defense recently announced that it will now require lawful permanent residents to "[c]omplete at least 180 consecutive days of active duty service, or at least one year of satisfactory service in the selected reserve." This is in clear contravention of Sections 328 and 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act cited above.

Veterans like Miguel Perez-Montes Jr., who served two tours in Afghanistan protecting you, me, and the American people, has been dumped across the border-penniless and destitute. While Mr. Perez was indeed convicted of a drug crime, the conviction stemmed directly from his fight with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); and while the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has worked to treat veterans with PTSD, the VA routinely denied the claims of veterans who were not honorably discharged, otherwise known as "bad paper veterans." Miguel Perez was one of them.

You recently signed the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act. The bill- now law - directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to administer mental health services to these so-called "bad paper veterans." A measure well-overdue that could have saved Miguel, and other veterans like him, from resorting to opioids and alcohol for relief after their government turns its back on them. Between United States Citizenship and Immigration Service expediting deportations, veterans or otherwise, and the Department of Defense placing unlawful conditions on our servicemembers, I know that unless something changes, Miguel Perez-Montes Jr. will not be the last foreign-born veteran we unceremoniously toss aside.

In private, you expressed support for my bipartisan solution, H.R. 3429, the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, which would prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans for specific minor crimes, and work to bring home those who have already been unjustly deported. The Repatriate Our Patriots Act is only the first step towards justice for these courageous men and women. Unfortunately, Miguel Perez-Montes Jr. would not be covered under my bill. That is why I would ask, in addition to publicly supporting my legislation, that you publicly support S. 2411, to give relief to Miguel Perez-Montes Jr. and allow him to rejoin his family in the United States.

Any person who fights for our country, regardless of where they are born, deserves our respect and immense gratitude. Foreign-born service members are no exception. Should you have any questions or need to speak to me about this proposed legislation or other matters, please contact me at (202) 225-2531. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Vicente Gonzalez

Member of Congress