The Valley Chronicle - Padilla Announces Bill to Stop Deportation of Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of Veterans Day, Padilla unveils new leg_x0002_islation to help prevent deportation of noncitizen veterans, provide path_x0002_way to citizenship for eligible military service members and their fam_x0002_ilies, and grant deported veterans an opportunity to return home to Amer_x0002_ica Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immi_x0002_gration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, announced the Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act to implement com_x0002_prehensive reforms across agencies to help prevent the deportation of non_x0002_citizen veterans, improve the pathway to citizen_x0002_ship for eligible military service members and their families, and grant deported veterans an op_x0002_portunity to return home to the United States. The legislation is cospon_x0002_sored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sand_x0002_ers (I-Vt.). Similar legis_x0002_lation was introduced in the House by Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Raúl Grijalva (D-A.Z.), and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.).

“The United States has an obligation to support veterans and their fami_x0002_lies, regardless of immi_x0002_gration status,” Senator Padilla said. “Since the founding of our nation, citizens and non-citizens have served together in the United States mili_x0002_tary, fighting side by side in defense of our nation and our values. We can_x0002_not disregard their ser_x0002_vice and sacrifice. The Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act will help keep fami_x0002_lies to together and help keep veterans where they belong — in the country they served and fought for.” “Every day, immigrant veterans are falling through the cracks of our broken immigration system and forced into deportation,” Rep. Mark Takano said. “It’s a dis_x0002_grace that the country they risked their lives for is preventing them from accessing the ben_x0002_efits they have rightfully earned and denying them the ability to permanently settle into the place they call home. Congress must right this wrong and I’m glad to be working with my colleagues in the Sen_x0002_ate to do just that.”

The Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act: Establishes the Military Family Immigration Ad_x0002_visory Committee to look at a totality of circum_x0002_stances and make recom_x0002_mendations on whether noncitizen veterans or their family facing depor_x0002_tation should be granted a stay of removal, deferred action, parole, or be re_x0002_moved from the country. Directs DHS to determine whether an individual in removal proceedings is a member of the armed forces, a veteran, or a covered family member – and if so, to transfer their case materials to the Mil_x0002_itary Family Immigration Advisory Committee. Improves the pathway to citizenship for mili_x0002_tary service members, and their spouses and children through a joint program between the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Requires DHS to estab_x0002_lish a program and appli_x0002_cation for veterans and their families who were removed from the United States to be admitted back into the country as lawful permanent residents and directs their removal cas_x0002_es to be reopened. Directs the DHS Secre_x0002_tary to establish an an_x0002_nual training program for DHS personnel on handling cases involving noncitizen veterans.