WASHINGTON—Julio Torres, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, wears his pride on his skin with tattoos of the American flag and Marine Corps insignia. Yet, after battling PTSD and drug addiction, Torres now faces a more sinister challenge: deportation.
Having immigrated legally from Mexico at the age of five, Torres has spent his life serving the very nation that now casts doubt on his belonging. Under President Trump’s stringent immigration crackdown, Torres is afraid to step outside his home in East Texas.
Despite being a green card holder and a veteran, he was detained by immigration authorities last year and is now acutely aware that the current enforcement policies could lead to him being removed from the country. Do I want to leave this nation? No. I want to serve it, Torres lamented. It breaks my heart that I fought for this nation to raise my children here, and now I might have to pull them out if I face deportation. What did I fight for?
Torres represents a growing population of over 100,000 military veterans in the U.S. who lack citizenship, according to estimates by the Congressional Research Service. The Trump administration’s immigration policies have escalated fears of deportation for these men and women who have fought for their country.
Democrats in Congress are sounding alarms about the maltreatment of veterans under strict immigration enforcement. A bipartisan bill proposed by Rep. Mark Takano seeks to ensure that veterans are identified by the Department of Homeland Security and granted opportunities to apply for lawful immigration status. The legislation would also simplify the citizenship process for service members and their families.
Torres recalls the bitterness of being detained after international travel for a visit to relatives. He was reminded of his past struggles while facing deportation. “I was angry that I served a nation that now did not want me,” he said. His fears extend beyond the U.S. borders, where he might face danger from criminal elements as a veteran returning to Mexico.
Despite the challenges, Torres and others are hopeful that ongoing legislative efforts can alleviate some of the burdens faced by noncitizen veterans—an issue that could encourage bipartisan support and greater recognition of their sacrifices.
This is about a veteran, Torres expressed, underscoring his dedication to a country that is, regardless of its stance, still very much his homeland.
