Dem rep. calls on Trump to stop deporting veterans: 'About 1,400' have already been removed from US
Source: RawStory
DAVID EDWARDS
13 MAR 2017 AT 09:59 ET
A U..S. congressman from Texas has called on his fellow lawmakers to force President Donald Trump to stop deporting U.S. veterans.
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (R-TX) told Rio Grande Guardian that around 1,400 veterans who were not U.S. citizens but fought for the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan had been deported in recent years.
Gonzalez said that he is looking for a Republican colleague to join me in co-sponsoring a bill that would allow immigrant veterans to stay in the U.S.
It is the most American thing to do, he explained. To take of our veterans who fought for us. Many were highly decorated veterans that were in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of them came hope with high levels of PTSD. We didnt offer them the mental healthcare they needed to transition them back into society.
Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/dem-rep-calls-on-trump-to-stop-deporting-veterans-about-1400-have-already-been-removed-from-us/
unblock
(52,286 posts)matt819
(10,749 posts)He's creating the perfect laboratory experiment for both internal and external radicalization.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)overly likely. It does sound like the Republican Party is bored with existence, though.
unblock
(52,286 posts)so a veteran suffering from ptsd who gets royally screwed over by the country he was fighting for?
not a stretch to think some small percentage of them might become dramatically violent.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)these veterans might have a particular propensity to becoming violent extremists, and I'm telling you no. That would be a great insult to them, and we don't really think they need further insult do they?
A very small number of people who do have extremist tendencies (we see a bunch on political forums) become violent extremists. Normal angry people don't, and a large majority of us are "normal" in that respect. "Normal" people don't just decide to drive a truck through a concert in a part because they're mad at the government.
Note especially that these veterans have earned a right to be here, and to become citizens, that they are extremely aware of. The fights they mount will be to return legally.
Btw, although it is happening, I can't find that this particular number has been confirmed yet.
unblock
(52,286 posts)yes the percentages involved are tiny and the vast majority of veterans in general, even non-citizen veterans, would abide by the legal process.
it does, however seem like the donnie administration is looking at pools of people and saying, hmm, who can we most effectively radicalize against america?
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and restoring some degree of trust . No matter how fickle people can be, this goes to their personal safety and security. Can't begin to imagine how many livelihoods and homes will be lost around a destabilized and readjusting planet.
Ligyron
(7,639 posts)Ages, demographics, etc. in particular since Trump has been in office.
DK504
(3,847 posts)Silly me.
Baconator
(1,459 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)law to get rid of every 'undocumented' they can get their hands on.
Remember Obama spent YEARS trying to pass the Dreamer bill so this abuse of law wouldn't happen. Families torn apart, people living in for profit detention camps for undocumented people.
justhanginon
(3,290 posts)you cannot live with us. Is this the new American way?
BumRushDaShow
(129,326 posts)It's always been the "American Way" since the country was founded'. You can ask any black WW2 vet (including my father) who fought and died for this country but couldn't move their families to the brand new suburban developments, nor send their children to the brand new white schools, nor drink from water fountains or eat in restaurants in certain states, nor be buried in a white cemetery. I.e., it was against the law for many of "us" (blacks) to "live with them" ("them" = the ones who made and enforced the laws despite many of our families having been here before "theirs" got off the boat).
IronLionZion
(45,494 posts)It has been a motivating reason for many to enlist.
This is shameful.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)as usual
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)You think a repug congressman would care if it were trump? No!
Igel
(35,337 posts)Requires basic literacy that can't be overridden by "but I think this is what must be true."
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)We can hang this on President O, but if the deportation Vets continues we can nag the hell out of President Trump about it...
Bengus81
(6,932 posts)Hard to believe Obama would send them packing because they got a couple of traffic tickets. More to this story IMO.
riversedge
(70,273 posts)You are right. there has to be more to this
............These are folks who have never had any legal trouble in their life, the congressman pointed out. They were discharged honorably. They get into a little trouble and they are deported.
Gonzalez called the deportations were a real indictment on our country.
If you fought for this country, you certainly deserve to live in it, he said................
grantcart
(53,061 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Ligyron
(7,639 posts)except for the wall part...
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)They voted for that republican lifestyle
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,570 posts)cstanleytech
(26,312 posts)join the military as that does not make them a special snowflake but that aside I am not adverse to having help provided to them at tax payer expensive in applying for citizenship if they wish to seek it.
Igel
(35,337 posts)They get expedited review in green-card and citizenship applications.
In other words, they agreed to risk their life out of loyalty to the US, the least the US can do is reward them. It does make them a special snowflake, more than somebody who agrees to work on a cause of particular interest to them for free and who mistake that narrow cause for the "common good" (perhaps because "we the people" only applies to a subset of the citizenry). Or, with less even admiration, agrees to work on a cause of interest to them for pay. One of the chief "common goods" is defense, even if those with more in some sense benefit from it more than those with less. Although one could take the opposite view, that if you have 20 houses scattered over the US and one's 2 miles from the front lines versus having just a single small house 2 miles from the front line, the owner of the single house has 100% of his assets at risk and dependent upon military defense while the wealthy person's need for defense covers 5% of his assets.)
In applying for citizenship, they do get special status. Some requirements are waived, including a filing fee. Family members may also be eligible for expedited review.
cstanleytech
(26,312 posts)be automatically granted for service in the military is all.
anniebelle
(899 posts)The headline says "Dem rep.", but the article says Rep. Vincente Gonzalez (R-TX)? Confusing?
B2G
(9,766 posts)This was going on under President Obama? Why were they deported?
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)of real trouble from my hometown area. We no longer have gunshots every night, gang graffiti all over buildings and what was popular 8 years ago, people holding (undocumented)hostages for cash.
Unfortunately this policy is abused more & more lately as people with lesser crimes who end up in jail for any reason risk deportation.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)You Republicans are responsible for this!!
B2G
(9,766 posts)I detest him, but Trump did not deport 1400 vets.
It clearly states this has happened over the last several years. Under Obama.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)to be treated like American citizen criminals, the same rights.
Igel
(35,337 posts)Hate Trump all you want, but if that's at a disregard of accuracy then all you got is a firm belief in hate as the greater good.
Which, again, goes to a faulty premise.
If you're a citizen, you're a citizen. Oddly, more than a few veterans somehow assume that citizenship is simply granted. It's not. It still has to be asked for and there are still things that can lead to a applicant's disqualification. However, you move close to the front of the line and some requirements are waived. They had a chance, they had opportunity, and all they needed was a stamp--application fee's waived. Presumably they have adequate English and know how paperwork goes, since, well, military.
Until then, you're like everybody else in your category.
More interesting, I don't know how well grounded the number in the OP is.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)came to America as infants, children. Seven fucking YEARS!! Republicans blocked our Presidents progress to help Dreamers.
Republicans abuse the law in place, its wrong and CRUEL to Veterans.
"Remember everything Hitler did was legal (MLK) just like the Republican assholes abuse that LAW.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Response to B2G (Reply #18)
LanternWaste This message was self-deleted by its author.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Sounds as serious, as valid, and as disquieting as your concern with entourage sizes during the African National Summit.
TranssexualKaren
(364 posts)The title of the article indicates the representative is a Democrat. The text said "Vincent Gonzalez (R-Tex)".
His wiki page indicates he is a Democrat.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)a part of the bill was this, but Republicans always blocked for almost SIX YEARS now.
Vinca
(50,300 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,312 posts)should make citizenship automatic.
leanforward
(1,077 posts)I don't care what his citizenship status is, if the troop, sailor, marine, airman, or coastie, has served in uniform, THEY STAY.
I noted that these vets were included in the DACA. Another area of unintended consequences.
I'm a loyal citizen, in opposition to pRezidend dRumpf and any GOP lemming.
Bring those vets back.
riversedge
(70,273 posts)about the Rep and other issues. He is a new congressman-just sworn into Congress in January.
http://riograndeguardian.com/rep-gonzalez-too-many-veterans-are-being-deported
Rep. Gonzalez: Too many veterans are being deported
By Steve Taylor -
March 12, 2017 280
SAN JUAN, RGV U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez says he is looking for Republican members of Congress to co-author legislation to help veterans who have been deported.
............................
Gonzalez made his comments in an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian following an immigration town hall meeting and news conference he held with U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at La Unión del Pueblo Entero on Saturday.
During the interview, Gonzalez also spoke about his goal of mobilizing more Hispanics to vote in the Rio Grande Valley and in Texas as a whole.
...................................
Asked what issue could spur Hispanics to vote in much greater numbers in Texas, Gonzalez said: I am thinking this should be one issue, the divisions that are happening in Latino communities across the country. And all the negative rhetoric (towards Mexico and Mexican Americans). It is so un-American and it sounds pretty awful.
..........................................
McAllen immigration attorney Carlos Garcia spoke at the immigration town hall meeting Rep. Gonzalez organized. Asked later if Rep. Gonzalezs ideas for voter mobilization might work, Garcia said: Yes. The Republicans are in total control right now but that does not mean we cannot be active, that we cant resist. It is extremely important that we do. As one of the community members said, if we dont do it, who else is going to do it for us? It is really important we get involved.
Several pics of the Town Hall....at link:
?fit=1280%2C853
grantcart
(53,061 posts)For example the deported vets in the following article want to come back but admit that they committed serious crimes. Article also points out that more than 100,000 vets became naturalized citizens and are not deportable even if they commit a serious crime.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2017/03/09/69753/deported-us-vets-in-mexico-hope-for-return-under-t/
Today he's part of a group of dozens of U.S. military veterans, most of them former legal residents but noncitizens, who were deported after criminal convictions and who for years have tried to convince multiple administrations to let them return. They acknowledge committing serious crimes such as felony drug dealing, but argue that they did their time and being kicked out of the country amounts to being punished twice.