CONGRESSMEN GONZALEZ, CORREA, AND FITZPATRICK RE-INTRODUCE THE REPATRIATE OUR PATRIOTS ACT  

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), J. Luis Correa (CA-46) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced the Repatriate Our Patriots Act (ROPA), a bipartisan piece of legislation that would create a pathway to citizenship for deported veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

"Anyone who has put on the uniform and swore an oath to protect the Constitution does not deserve to be expelled from the very country they were defending", stated Congressman Gonzalez. "It is disgraceful that we have stood by as a country and continue to allow this to happen. It is time to bring these heroes home and ensure that those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms have a pathway to citizenship."

"It is simply unacceptable that the United States would deport veterans that have served in our armed forces with honor, instead of working with them to get the help they needed," said Congressman Correa. "As we work to reform our immigration system, it's incumbent on us to deliver a pathway to citizenship for every American that's offered to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It is long past time for us to bring our deported veterans home and deliver on our promise."

"The brave men and women who fight for our country on the battlefield deserve to be able to call America home," said Congressman Fitzpatrick. "I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort that will bring much needed legal reforms to our immigration system and ensure our deported veterans are brought home safely."

The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Representatives Brad Sherman (CA-32), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Bill Foster (IL-11), James McGovern (MA-2), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Joe Neguse (CO-2), Mike Levin (CA-49), Juan Vargas (CA-52).

The Repatriate Our Patriots Act would:

· Allow deported veterans who were honorably discharged or released to go through the naturalization process abroad. This excludes those who have been convicted of crimes such as voluntary manslaughter, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and/or terrorism.

· Order the Attorney General to cancel or rescind a removal order that affects any eligible veteran, and subsequently change his or her status to legal permanent resident.

· Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to create a program and application procedure to allow veterans, who are eligible and were removed prior to the bill's enactment, to return to the U.S. lawfully and be admitted as a permanent resident.

· Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to identify and maintain records of immigration cases involving qualifying veterans.

The full text of ROPA can be found here.

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