The Cost Of Serving Your Country: Deported Veterans of America

There are soldiers and marines that have served the United States even though they were not born in the country. Some of them entered the US by crossing the border illegally, but after being promised citizenship in exchange for their service, they enlisted. Some of them have risked their lives on the front lines in wars like Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Today they find themselves deported to Mexico after having committed a crime, like cashing checks without funds, shooting a firearm or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after having served the United States on the ground and have, since their deportation, lost the right to receive medical attention.

We went to Tijuana to meet a group of veterans who have been expelled by the U.S. Government. Héctor Barajas, a former paratrooper for the U.S. Army, has seen with his own eyes just how difficult life is for the veterans who have been expelled from their country. After living in Tijuana's El Bordo river canal, he decided to leave his addictions behind and start a shelter for deported veterans. The Bunker, as the site is known, has the capacity to host up to 5 veterans who have been deported to Tijuana.

Hector and another 20 veterans are in Mexico fighting for the U.S. to acknowledge their service, grant them the citizenship that was promised to them when they decided to serve in the Armed Forces and allow them to return to what they consider to be their country. Every month they station themselves at the San Ysidro international border, to expose both Mexicans and Americans to their story.

They are just some of the 2 million Mexicans who have been deported under the Obama Administration.

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Video @: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6rjCvgRkq0

TheDemSocialist said:

Video @: [/FONT][/COLOR]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6rjCvgRkq0

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This is horrible, but not unexpected. USA is not a trustworthy country, hasn't been under any political party regarding enlistment promotions/promises, veterans, combat readiness, post-combat medical/mental health availability. That said, any illegal immigrant that joins another country's war under the promise of citizenship is pretty stupid, imo.

Summerwind said:

This is horrible, but not unexpected. USA is not a trustworthy country, hasn't been under any political party regarding enlistment promotions/promises, veterans, combat readiness, post-combat medical/mental health availability. That said, any illegal immigrant that joins another country's war under the promise of citizenship is pretty stupid, imo.

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I just think if you join the military under all those promises they give you and then say "well **** you, you were part of the machine, your were a cog now GTFO" is just absolutely terrible.

TheDemSocialist said:

Video @: [/FONT][/COLOR]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6rjCvgRkq0

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One thing people joining the military should understand is if it is not in your enlistment contract then what ever they claim is worthless. If the recruiter promises you ranger school or some other military school, money bonus, a duty station,MOS or anything else then it better be in your enlistment contract. A recruiter's promise doesn't mean anything if it is not in your contract.

TheDemSocialist said:

Video @: [/FONT][/COLOR]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6rjCvgRkq0

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There's gotta be more to this story. I know for a fact, that every non-citizen that served with me, was granted citizenship upon honorable completion of their first enlistment. Many re-enlisted as full citizens after that.

I find it hard to believe that there's not some reason for this, like not getting an honorable discharge, or getting an Article 15 or worse while serving. Any of those can make them ineligible for citizenship, as it should.

I also have a hard time jumping straight and first to the conclusion that the US is at fault here. Before I would believe that, I would need to see their service records. A simple glimpse at their DD-214 would probably tell us why this happened.

TheDemSocialist said:

I just think if you join the military under all those promises they give you and then say "well **** you, you were part of the machine, your were a cog now GTFO" is just absolutely terrible.

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Since they committed crimes, I don't think your brief is at all fair. However even our legal citizen soldiers are being shat upon by the government, with promises made and not kept, and have been since at least Vietnam. Not a pretty picture at all, but I don't see it as being somehow more unfair to these folks than any other. So some vets are still citizens, because they were always legal, they're still homeless, chronically unemployed (perhaps unemployable), losing family and friends, not getting medical care, mental care, college payment promises broken, ... seems over the years the government's grade regarding vets and serving soldiers is worst than piss poor.

Summerwind said:

Since they committed crimes, I don't think your brief is at all fair.

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In my opinion it does not matter. They paid a huge sacrifice by choosing to serve in the military.

However even our legal citizen soldiers are being shat upon by the government, with promises made and not kept, and have been since at least Vietnam. Not a pretty picture at all, but I don't see it as being somehow more unfair to these folks than any other.

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I agree but to a point. These people served in the military fought for the country, then the country they served said "oh, nope, thanks for serving US, thanks for fighting for the USA, go away now"

So some vets are still citizens, because they were always legal, they're still homeless, chronically unemployed (perhaps unemployable), losing family and friends, not getting medical care, mental care, college payment promises broken, ... seems over the years the government's grade regarding vets and serving soldiers is worst than piss poor.

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And i agree we have a huge vet problem and I think we need a overhall of the system.

They're Brown.

If they were white immigrants the story would be entirely different.

USA #1

:roll:

Buddha C said:

They're Brown.

If they were white immigrants the story would be entirely different.

USA #1

:roll:

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A link please to prove such a comment. I suspect it might be true, but are there white, illegal immigrants that have served, committed crimes and then NOT been deported? I wonder how you'd find out such a thing if one wanted facts. I can't find anything online with the search terms that came to my mind.

TheDemSocialist said:

In my opinion it does not matter. They paid a huge sacrifice by choosing to serve in the military.


I agree but to a point. These people served in the military fought for the country, then the country they served said "oh, nope, thanks for serving US, thanks for fighting for the USA, go away now"



And i agree we have a huge vet problem and I think we need a overhall of the system.

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Apparently part of the agreement is that they can't commit crimes, so I don't see why you keep implying that they lived up to their part of the agreement.

Summerwind said:

Apparently part of the agreement is that they can't commit crimes, so I don't see why you keep implying that they lived up to their part of the agreement.

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So what if they commit crimes? Why should someone be deported after serving that country be deported because they committed a crime? Especially petty crimes?

Summerwind said:

A link please to prove such a comment. I suspect it might be true, but are there white, illegal immigrants that have served, committed crimes and then NOT been deported? I wonder how you'd find out such a thing if one wanted facts. I can't find anything online with the search terms that came to my mind.

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The simple fact of the matter is this:

Whites have raped and pillaged their way to relative opulence (read: relative difference between Ireland/Greece to Guatemala or Burkina Faso) so that they have less advantage to immigrate in the *current* atmosphere.

Further the US immigration doctrine gives preference to high skilled labour (read: labour that is either a brain drain from 3rd world countries or is relatively highy prevalent in White countries that have raped both peoples, properties and environment) while also setting a static quota on immigration from country (I believe it's 1-10k a year?)

Now, let's look at neighboring nations:

Canada. If I have to explain that to you... well, I suggest you do some reading.

Mexico. See above.

Everything below Mexico until Brazil and Argentina. See above.

So you have a restrictive quota that applies to countries across the globe same as it applies to bordering countries.

Then you have exemptions for higher skilled labour that tend to come from countries that have overall extremely higher levels of development than countries that are immigrating.

I mean, think about it. If I'm a doctor in Ireland or Greece, what real gain do I have to make, besides getting rid of my close relatives, by moving to America?

Now if I'm some piss-poor farmer who can't feed his family in Mexico/El Salvador/Rwanda I have a real economic benefit by moving, even after I pay taxes and living expenses and saving to bring more of my family over while also being able to provide for the people back in my homeland.

I cannot provide evidence outside the bounds of common sense, and for that I am sorry that the entire breath of Research on the subject has such a dearth on an issue so very important.

But I don't think it takes much inference to put two and two together.

Beaudreaux said:

There's gotta be more to this story. I know for a fact, that every non-citizen that served with me, was granted citizenship upon honorable completion of their first enlistment. Many re-enlisted as full citizens after that.

I find it hard to believe that there's not some reason for this, like not getting an honorable discharge, or getting an Article 15 or worse while serving. Any of those can make them ineligible for citizenship, as it should.

I also have a hard time jumping straight and first to the conclusion that the US is at fault here. Before I would believe that, I would need to see their service records. A simple glimpse at their DD-214 would probably tell us why this happened.

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If you don't mind my asking, what years did you serve? Immigration policies tend to change.

I'm not trying to insult you, I thank you for your service, but epochs matter.

TheDemSocialist said:

Video @: [/FONT][/COLOR]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6rjCvgRkq0

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That sounds inconsistent with US behavior in the past and is scandalous, if true.

Buddha C said:

If you don't mind my asking, what years did you serve? Immigration policies tend to change.

I'm not trying to insult you, I thank you for your service, but epochs matter.

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Immigration policy may change, but the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and the law regarding citizenship for serving honorably in the military hasn't. That's why Obama is Naturalizing a bunch of vets tomorrow live at the White House, which other than being a political move, is a great thing.

Beaudreaux said:

Immigration policy may change, but the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and the law regarding citizenship for serving honorably in the military hasn't. That's why Obama is Naturalizing a bunch of vets tomorrow live at the White House, which other than being a political move, is a great thing.

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If it hasn't changed why does it matter if he's Naturalizing it?

If it hasn't changed why would it be news that Obama is doing the exact same thing as Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr., reagan, etc have done?

Your very statement *seems* contradictory to me, but I could be wrong.

Buddha C said:

If it hasn't changed why does it matter if he's Naturalizing it?

If it hasn't changed why would it be news that Obama is doing the exact same thing as Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr., reagan, etc have done?

Your very statement *seems* contradictory to me, but I could be wrong.

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It isn't any different. That's why I said it was a political move. I don't think you understand what Naturalization is.

Beaudreaux said:

It isn't any different. That's why I said it was a political move. I don't think you understand what Naturalization is.

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Lol, I do. But I'll do more research.

Then again, I'm always pro-Ellis Island style immigration policy since that is, afterall, what made this nation "great", if such a word can be used for systemic terrorists and abusers.

TheDemSocialist said:

So what if they commit crimes? Why should someone be deported after serving that country be deported because they committed a crime? Especially petty crimes?

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The UCMJ and US Code do not allow a person to become a Naturalized citizen if they have committed certain crimes. Also, the enlistment contract that they signed would have stipulated that if they broke those laws, either military or civilian, while serving their enlistment that they would forfeit their citizenship. That's so what, and why it matters.

Buddha C said:

Lol, I do. But I'll do more research.

Then again, I'm always pro-Ellis Island style immigration policy since that is, afterall, what made this nation "great", if such a word can be used for systemic terrorists and abusers.

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Pardon me? To whom are you referring to as "systemic terrorists and abusers?"

Beaudreaux said:

Pardon me? To whom are you referring to as "systemic terrorists and abusers?"

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Let's compare the American amount of funds used to support terrorism across the globe to the Taliban or Islam at whole.

It's no where near comparable.

If you don't think the USA used fear specifically to affect the political landscape of a Litany of countries you're living in a fairy tale.

Beaudreaux said:

The UCMJ and US Code do not allow a person to become a Naturalized citizen if they have committed certain crimes. Also, the enlistment contract that they signed would have stipulated that if they broke those laws, either military or civilian, while serving their enlistment that they would forfeit their citizenship. That's so what, and why it matters.

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Excuse me of my ignorance but what is the exact code?

Buddha C said:

Let's compare the American amount of funds used to support terrorism across the globe to the Taliban or Islam at whole.

It's no where near comparable.

If you don't think the USA used fear specifically to affect the political landscape of a Litany of countries you're living in a fairy tale.

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That's what I thought you meant.

TheDemSocialist said:

Excuse me of my ignorance but what is the exact code?

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To be fair, he's probably correct (as much as I would like to see it myself) but I have a tendency to see things on a macroeconomic scale because 90% of my posts are in the economics forum xP

TheDemSocialist said:

Excuse me of my ignorance but what is the exact code?

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Not a problem, since it's not something that any of us deal with on a regular basis. Here's a link to the US Citizenship and Immigration Service's web page about this.