E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Jan. 30, 2012 - Aliso Viejo, California, U.S. - Spc. Hector Barajas, a veteran from Los Angeles who served in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne division from 1995 - 2001, wears his barrett and cloaks himself in Old Glory at sunset on the roof of his apartment in Rosarito, Mexico.
ROSARITO, BAJA CALIFORNIA -- Keeping tabs on his U.S. citizenship application wasn't much of a priority for Marine Cpl. Rohan Coombs when he served in the Persian Gulf War.
The aircraft maintenance specialist had more pressing concerns: the safety of his comrades as bombs rained down and people died around him in the desert.
Coombs, who came to the U.S. legally from Jamaica as a child and enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 20, served six years in the military. Eventually, he settled in Tustin and figured he was a U.S. citizen because he'd gone to war for his country.
He was wrong. Like hundreds of other men and women who served in the U.S. military, Coombs faces deportation and banishment from the country he went to war for after being arrested. In his case, he was arrested several times on charges of possession for use or sale of marijuana.
Read the original article on OCRegister.com
Just south of the U.S.-Mexico border in Rosarito, a contingent of about a dozen veterans who call themselves the "Banished Veterans" are lobbying to change an immigration act that allows legal residents who commit certain crimes to be deported, despite his or her military service. The group has launched a website, Facebook page and created a network of advocates and attorneys who provide legal and emotional support to U.S. veterans who face deportation.
"What is happening in these cases is so unjust, so unfair and so outrageous," said Craig R. Shagin, an immigration lawyer in Pennsylvania who represents deported U.S. veterans. "It's not about being nice to a guy. It's about realizing that because of what he did, he is an American. ... He wore the uniform."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say they don't take the decision to deport a veteran lightly. Deportable offenses can range from murder or domestic violence to cashing a wrong check or drug possession.
If a veteran is to be removed, it has to be authorized by the senior leadership, ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack said.
"ICE exercises prosecutorial discretion for members of the armed forces who have honorably served our country on a case-by-case basis when appropriate," she stated.
Christine Quinn, New York City Council Speaker who has fought for an Iraq War veteran ticker-tape parade in New York City, talks with Rachel Maddow, Super Bowl bet loser, about what it will take to give returning vets the same celebrated treatment as a winning football team.
More than 70,000 noncitizens enlisted in the U.S. military -- about 4 percent of the armed forces -- from fiscal year 1999 to 2008, according to the Center for Naval Analyses, a federally funded research and development center for the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps. Those who are in the country illegally are not allowed to join.
Less than half of the legal residents who joined the military during the same period had become U.S. citizens as of June 2010, the center said. Estimates for the number of deported veterans range from the hundreds to the thousands. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say they don't keep track of that statistic, but will in the near future.
Coombs is in his third year of immigration detention in El Centro, fighting deportation to Jamaica after his 2008 arrest and conviction on possession for sale of marijuana.
He said he first started using pot just to help him with anxiety after he returned from war. Later, he said, he also started to sell some of the drug to his friends who knew he could get it.
"Nobody told me I could be in this situation," the 45-year-old said about his deportation fight. "The whole time I thought I was a citizen."
Vet deportations
The ramifications can be grave for veterans who never become U.S. citizens and get into trouble.
A 1996 immigration law -- and others that came after -- expanded a list of offenses that can lead to deportation for a legal resident. Currently, legal residents can be deported if they are convicted of an aggravated felony under immigration law. However, the definition of what constitutes an aggravated felony is broad -- it can be anything from drug possession to murder to writing a bad check or theft.
Jerry Lopez, who lives in Rosarito, says he was ordered deported in 2004 after a series of crimes -- including theft and smuggling people into the country illegally.
"That was the last piece of proof that I was even in the military," he said, pointing to a discolored life insurance card that spelled out "Veterans Authorization Card."
"Just like us. We faded," said the 38-year-old. "When you get deported, you get wiped out pretty much. It's like you're erased and never existed."
Lopez said he grew up in a rough Chicago suburb, lived on the streets as a teen and mugged people for money. He said he straightened out his life after joining the U.S. Navy. He loaded bombs into aircrafts on the flight deck of a carrier to help enforce no-fly zones over Iraq.
He was switched from ordnance detail after breaking his leg while loading a bomb. His behavior after being moved to an administrative position following the injury ultimately led to him being discharged from the Navy. He said he doesn't know whether it was honorable or dishonorable.
Military officials said they cannot release information on whether a service member was honorably or dishonorably discharged.
Now, he said he's leading a life "for the good" in Rosarito and believes he deserves U.S. citizenship after putting his life at risk serving in Iraq. He says he has a steady job detailing vehicles and as a security bouncer at a local bar.
Shagin said the immigration law is unfair to veterans who may have gotten into trouble because of post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental or physical injuries brought on by service to their country.
"If an American former Marine sells marijuana, he goes to jail. If a Mexican former U.S. Marine sells marijuana, he goes to jail and gets deported," Shagin said. "That's what's wrong. They should both be punished, according to the law.
"The issue is, do you differentiate? And say, 'Yes, even though you were an American once in uniform, now you're not and we're going to send you back to Mexico or wherever you came from."
The fact that someone wore a uniform should not keep them from obeying the law, said Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis.
"You can serve the nation honorably in uniform but have to adhere to society's laws once you take the uniform off," Davis said. "Just because you served honorably in uniform doesn't mean you should have more rights and privileges as any other American or any other visitor to our country may enjoy."
Benefits for banished veterans
Victor Hinojosa Jr., a Vietnam veteran and U.S.-born citizen who lives in Rosarito, wants to make sure the banished veterans get what's owed them.
U.S. veterans are still eligible for benefits, such as free health care, at a Veterans Affairs office, even after they are deported. However, most can't get the benefits unless they enter the United States illegally -- and that would be a felony.
Hinojosa, who grew up in Anaheim, said he is speaking with Veterans Affairs officials to find a way to legally take the Rosarito veterans to the U.S. for the health checkups.
"I don't want to see these guys suffering," he said. "I want to be on the bus that takes these guys across the border to get their wounds treated."
Since 2002, it has been easier for noncitizen recruits to become citizens. President George W. Bush signed an executive order that allows all noncitizens who have served honorably for one day during the war on terrorism to apply for U.S. citizenship. Previously, noncitizen service members waited three years before becoming eligible for U.S. naturalization.
Still, veterans have to apply and put in the proper paperwork to become citizens. Members of the Banished Veterans group said they didn't see the need because they thought they'd become U.S. citizens when they took the oath to serve the country. Others, like Coombs, believed their service would protect them from deportation.
Currently, there is no legislation that would give relief to noncitizen veterans facing deportation. A bill was introduced several years ago by Congressman Bob Filner, D-San Diego, a ranking member on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, to protect immigrant veterans from deportation. However, it didn't go anywhere, Shagin said.
There isn't much hope for a bill passing now, he added.
"To even talk about immigration is poisonous," he said. "It's toxic."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Leave a Comment:
Deporting and banning a drug dealer. What a great idea. Apparently these Veterans did not learn, or did not remember about FOLLOWING ORDERS, FOLLOWING LAWS, doing WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO IN LIFE.
I've got news for you, a clear majority of the US population will break a drug law in their lifetime. Including all of the last 3 presidents (at least). When a majority of the people break a law, the problem is not the people, it's the law.
Deweydan: Where did you serve? What have you done for your country? Blogging in this forum doesn't count..... Are you another lip service infantry individual? Armchair warrior?
Entering the US legally, serving in the military and being honorably discharged should get you automatic US citizenship.
Commiting a crime as a US citizen is bad enough, committing one as an illegal alien is worse!
Having served in the military does not justify one not being deported if they are here illegally.
Follow the laws of the land and be a productive citizen
Devil's Son
But you HAVE to put in the paperwork. In this case, the chances of acceptance were high, but the possibility of deportation is always there. Military service does not amount to a free pass, nor should it.
Great idea! Let's deport any convicted criminal, US citizen or not.
Anybody else think that's a good idea?
Fed up,
So in your opinion, only veterans have the right to have an opinion on the enforcement of the law in the USA? Fine. I am a Navy vet. I served honorably for 7 years. I now work as a public servant as a paramedic. I have spent my entire adult life making sacrifices for the citizens of America.
These people are criminals. Coombs is a drug dealer. Even if he hasn't engaged in violence against American citizens, he has engaged in activities that bring violence to our people. I have been to too many calls where people have been murdered or mutilated because of drug deals gone bad or drug gangs fighting other gangs. Why are you defending them? If they are convicted after a fair trial, then they deserve to be treated like the criminals they are.
MS in NM,
First, 3 people do not make a majority. Second, when the majority of people break a law, it is because we aren't enforcing the law properly. Attitudes like your put American citizens lives in danger. I have been shot at because you want to break the law.
Yes, their service to their country should be taken into consideration, but that does not excuse their crimes. How did you two react to the service members that urinated on dead Afgans? Or how about when the service members posted humiliating pictures of POWs in Gitmo?
This is a tough one. On the one hand, ignorance of a law is never a viable defense for breaking it. On the other hand, it's appalling to me that a legal, non-citizen resident who served honorably in the US military could be deported for something like writing a bad check, or selling weed (which shouldn't be illegal in the first place, but that's a whole other can-o-worms). Like Devil's Son above, I too believe that honorable military service should automatically confer citizenship.
If only we could deport citizens who commit multiple crimes also. Oh wait. That was tried before. I believe they now call it Australia. But wait, Australia is a growing healthy society. How can that be? Aren't we blaming all our criminals for all our problems?
Those that do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. Uh, and for the clueless, that's not a good thing.
Chuck: You seem like an old school scotch drinker..... Most in this forum are two-faced when it comes to drugs. Have you ever smoked marijuana? Have you done any kind of drugs? Well... chances are if you have they came from someone who was dealing drugs. Placing blame on another is easy when it doesn't involve taking a look at yourself. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw friggin' boulders.
Imagine that. Having possession of marijuana !! How horrible !! /sarcasm
Can anyone say IMMIGRATION REFORM !! So we can put together some sane rules.
.
deweydan, you should be deported. After all you are willing to show disrespect to someone that served this country. I think also that if somebody is serving in the military, and are eligible to be a citizen, then it should be the military'sresponsibility to handle the soldier/sailor/airman/marine becoming a citizen. This should also reduce the cost of becoming the citizen. Shame on you, shame on the military.
Doc Holliday - Reading comprehension lesson: This article says you can't enlist in the armed services unless you're a legal resident. None of those veterans were illegal.
Yep, ICE doesn't take deportation of Illegal Immigrants LIGHTLY since they are following Mr. Obama's Executive Order to the tee. Just ask the Illegal Immigrants who were granted AMNESTY under Mr. Obama's Executive Order bypassing Congressional procedures. Or better yet, ask the La Raza group Mr. Obama spoke to, and joked about, his ability to bypass Congress to get things done HIS WAY.
Wait a minute.....what happened to the Justice system by taking these "veterans" to court instead of sending them packing ? They should serve time first if convicted of a crime in court, and while they are incarcerated review the legality of them being here in the first place then deport them if they are here illegally.
So, is it policy to let Illegals join the military then become U.S. citizens ? If that is the case, then the legislation needs a complete overhaul. Wait another minute, some miltary members are allowed to become citizens AFTER they are in the military (Yahoo the number legalized while in the military) anyway.
theproof....."This article says you can't enlist in the armed services unless you're a legal resident. None of those veterans were illegal."
Uhhhh, Yahoo the swearing in to become a U.S. citizen by those Illegal Immigrants who are in the military.
Bottom line: anything for a VOTE.
Here is a starter:
@Ido, check the facts. President Obama deported more illegals in 3 years than Bush did in 8.
Fed Up,
No, I don't drink. I run on too many calls for people that are murdered by drunk drivers. Yes, I tried marijuana as a teenager and didn't like it, nor did I like the element I had to deal with to try it. I don't take drugs and avoid prescription pain medicines whenever possible.
You seem like the type of person that believes that we should never, ever impose on someone's rights to do whatever they want, regardless of how their decisions violate the rights of others. I believe that, as long as your actions don't infringe on the rights of others, you should be free to do as you want, but I am also not stupid enough to ignore the fact that most of those decisions affect others. This morning I ran on a drunk driver that fortunately only hurt herself, but could have killed innocent people. Two days ago, I ran on someone that was driving under the influence of marijuana and ran their car into 2 other cars, injuring innocent people. Last Saturday I ran on a multiple shooting because one gang was mad that another gang was competing for their drug business. Unfortunately, they missed all the gangbangers and hit the innocent people next door. One of the more common calls I run on is for drug addicts that run out of pain meds and want a ride to the hospital to get a refill. They don't pay for that, my taxes do, and so does the person that has a real emergency but has to wait for an ambulance to come from farther away because the drug addict can't take a taxi. Maybe if we got Medicaid to start paying for taxis, this wouldn't be a problem.
You can live in your fantasyland, but I have to deal with the real world ramifications of people like you preventing the laws from getting enforced.
@Ido - here's the source. Christian Science Monitor, no less.
'Severed Head in a Jar' wrote:
REPLY: Um, 'Severed Head', ...to WHERE do you propose to "deport" United States citizens?
I can't wait to read your ingenious and well-thought-out plan. So, do much thinking do you? Oh, sorry. I forgot your Newsvine nickname for a moment. Never mind.
Anyone that thinks we should be wasting money deporting and arresting MJ users needs their head checked.
Depends on what you are. If you are white: Europe that's where white people came from. Blacks: Africa that's where they were stolen from. Latino: Latin America is close by take your pick. Asians: Asia. Native American: They were already deported to reservations. I like severed head in a jar's comment actually.
I never fought to defend this country, I was simply born here. If somebody from another country fights on my behalf, then they should get citizenship, no questions asked.
Just joining the military is not enough however, you must be deployed to enjoy this honor.
This topic is mostly for tolling. People get all worked up. This guy is in a tough spot and I cant blame him for playing what ever cards he holds and wish him luck his life turns around. But...
What I hear is someone saying a veteran has more rights than someone who is working to make America great from the inside.
Most vets I know said it was a PRIVILEGE to serve and that they got out of it far more than they put into it.
And, the military doesn't train dumb automatons like some third world "armies", a vet should be savvy and know better than to treat their citizenship status lightly. A careless soldier will let his comrades down.
Rifer madness; anyone who thinks pot is not harm-full , just look at some of the 1950's films, of people on pot, killing, rapeining, driving into crowds and going completely insane on that demon weed; just look at some of the craze's we know who smoked pot, Clinton Bush, Obama, Kerry, and at least 80% of those that served in Nam. we are living in strange times .
I served, too long. There were a lot of guys with us that were legal immigrants and they deserve, deserve, deserve citizenship. Some of them were not model citizen material, but they served. There was NO information generally distributed to tell anyone how to gurantee their citizenship. Untill recently, I thought that just having served 3 years, these guys were citizens, automatically. All they needed was their discharge to prove it, but not so.
If these guys break a law, then they should serve the same penalty as a citizen, not shipped out. It sounds more like a version of Ethnic Cleansing than law enforcement.
Got you all fooled said:
Depends on what you are. If you are white: Europe that's where white people came from. Blacks: Africa that's where they were stolen from. Latino: Latin America is close by take your pick. Asians: Asia. Native American: They were already deported to reservations. I like severed head in a jar's comment actually.
In order to deport a person to another country the other country has to accept that the person being deported is a citizen of theirs. If the other country doesn't accept that the deportee belongs there or if the US doesn't have an trade agreement witht hem to return an illegal, the detainee is 'stuck'.
I spent 3 years in ICE custody, 'stuck'. I was adopted as an infant by an IL-born Vietnam vet and his wife, who never told me that I was adopted before they passed away. When USCIS did a routine record review they found they'd lost my adoption paper and sent ICE to look for me to get a copy.
I, havng never been told, knew absolutely nothing about any of it and so they detained me as an 'illegal'. And they continued to detain me even after they found there was nowhere they could possibly deport me to--I was a stateless infant abandoned on an orphanage doorstep in a country whose culture viewed girls as worthless, so no effort was ever made to find out who I was, where I'd come from. I didn't officially have a home country until I was adopted, but ICE told me that since there was nowhere for me to be deported to, I would remain in detention until I produced the adoption paper.
But now you all have to watch out; there's a new bill making its way up through Congress. Called the Enemy Expatriation Act, or HR3166, it'll allow the government to strip citizenship from anyone suspected of acting contrary to the interests of the US or any of its allies. Partner the EEA with the NDAA 2012, it means that any one of you on here could be suspected of a terrorist act, stripped of your citizenship and detained by the US military without charge or trial until the war on terror is over.
Homeland Security currently has a budget of $98 billion, according to Wikipedia. According to their budget, they ask for $141 per person per night for each person detained. The more people they detain, the more their budget request goes up and the more money they get from Congress.
Any guesses to when the war on terror will be over?
@Amanda
And let's not forget, our friendly neighborhood MSNBC and its army of crackerjack moron 'journalists' didn't bother reporting on the NDAA in the least.
Between that and ignoring the slaughter and torture in Libya and Iraq while trumpeting thrice daily the 5,000 killed in Syria in an entire year as though it heralded the end of the world.
Mainstream media do love their "SELECTIVE" reporting.
What the hell is "rifer"? Saxon, you have no clue, you just follow the imbeciles and say "yep smoking rifer in the 50's leads to murder and mayhem" Get a life fool.. And for the record it's "reefer" and the film was in the 30's.
Jungleb # 1.27, MSNBC is NOT mainstream media, nor is FNC or CNN. These are all Cable TV commentaries, with websites. Selective they are; mainstream they are not. The mainstream media? Try the Wall Street Journal or PBS News Hour.
Hilarious!!!!!!
MSN publishing more propaganda to try and drum up support for the dream act.
That's the best they can do to tug at your heartstrings?
A drug dealer from Jamaica, and a Human Trafficker who got caught smuggling more Illegals across the border?
My heart breaks. NOT!
Dream act, think about it. Illegals on paper show no money. On paper, they're all poor as funk.
Who will qualify for financial aid to college, your American Citizen Children
Or Illegals?
THINK!
They will suck up all the financial aid. Our children will get NOTHING!
This is evil, as are the critics of the man. You serve in the US Military honorably, you DON'T get deported.
Anyone who says otherwise is unpatriotic and unamerican. Admit it, you don't give a sh*t because he's of Mexican descent, even though he's a better American than you.
Oh, and nothing is wrong with smoking or selling weed. The US Gov is not the arbiter of morality. The guy sacrificed when this country called on him, and he deserves a buzz on American soil.
Don't give me the "he knew and chose to break the law" BS. Anyone on this forum has broken a litany of laws and statutes at all different levels.
The self righteous people casting stones here have little respect for US law either, they just lack the ability to be honest and introspective. Think Newt Gingrich types and how they behaved during the Clinton affairs while they were boning aids themselves. They have genuine rage and anger because they believe the lies they tell themselves. Ahhh... flame away!
DocHolliday - The story is about legal residents, who have served in the U.S. Military, and are not being deported.
That is an important point.
Saxon
Time to quit smoking, Sax. It's turned your 2 brain cells to mush.
Comment # 1 restored for clarity.
those commenting on my satire, if you can not see what I was really saying then you need to loosen up; concentrating on vets that smoked some pot as some kind of undesirable is not only foolish it is insane, that is why I named a few of well known pot smokers 3 of them presidents of the U.S. .
RelaxDon'tDoIt..... While I appreciate your Frankie goes to Hollywood moniker, as a typical US Citizen, I wasn't even aware that the ILLEGAL problem was so bad that they aren't even making sure our soldiers are actual US Citizens.
Seems like that would be IMPORTANT.
But hey, what do I know.
I respectfully suggest that wanting my Country to concentrate it's resources on what's best FOR IT'S OWN CITIZENS is really not so crazy when you think about it.
Unpatriotic? Not even close.
I have a couple of problems where all of this is going. First and foremost is that any veteran with an HONORABLE DISCHARGE, not anything less can be deported.
Second, many of you confuse the marijuana issue with the issue about veterans. One has nothing to do with the other. The only connection is that this particular vet broke the law in that regard. It does not matter how you feel about that particular law.
Third, Joe, my esteemed VFW leader, what are the reasons behind your statement? As a life member I can only wonder. I respectfully disagree with you. I agree that just because a vet served with honor that they do not get a free pass as to obeying the rest of our laws after discharge. They should however have more rights than those who are just here on a visa that did not serve. Frankly I believe they should have more rights than many in this country who do not serve at all. It should be a fast track to citizenship without all the BS. Truthfully I believe we should require mandatory service of some type. I understand there are those who are opposed to military service. Let them serve in domestic peace corps or WPA type programs or anything else you can come up with. As long as it requires some sacrifice on the part of the individual and serves a purpose for the greater good of the society. Now should they (the vets) be punished for their crimes? Yes, but only under the same justice as any US citizen would. Equal justice under the law. They have at least earned that.
As far as I am concerned no one should be allowed to vote unless they have served some either. Teaching some self of these values to our young would go a long way in preventing these crimes in the first place.
BS.
Toe the line or get out?
This is not what America means. This is not what anyone deserves for serving.
Like you would have a clue about anything. And what does America mean, exactly? That you can remain a non-citizen but a legal resident and commit crimes and nothing will happen to you? As a veteran myself I have little sympathy for these people. Former sailor Jerry Lopez got administratively discharged for something he calls "behavior" problems. Well, let me tell you, it isn't easy to get thrown out of the Navy. You have to work at it. Enjoy Rosarito, Jerry, because you're never getting back in the US.
Nonsense. He commited a felony. Had he been born in The United States, he'd go to prison in leavenworth. Instead, his US citzenship has been revoked.
It should mean that when our laws says that you can become a citizen if you serve in our military, they can become citizens. It should also mean that if you commit a felony, then you should go to prison. Harry, do you think that an illegal alien that has committed the same felony is to treated better than a legal resident who served our country?
Give him US citizenship and send him to jail. Problem solved.
And then there's the lower end of the scale, where the laws are arbitrary and pointless. Smoking weed is NOT supposed to be illegal.
I don't understand how you can enlist in the military without citizenship. Don't you need a social security number? It does seem unfair that these people would be used as U.S. soldiers then not counseled about obtaining citizenship--a way of saying thanks from a grateful nation.
He's a citizen. ICE is just being lazy as hell because its easier to deny someone their rights then it is to prosecute them. In their eyes they're just saving money.
With the NDAA, they could just as easily revoke his citizenship, declare him a terrorist and ship him off to any CIA jail they please to be tortured indefinitely, without hope of seeing a lawyer, a judge, or the light of day.
Too bad - under a Ron Paul presidency he might have been spared, since RP would pass drug laws off to the individual states, like the death penalty is now.
Deportable offenses can range from murder or domestic violence to cashing a wrong check
What the hell is "Cashing a Wrong Check"????
Let me first say that I am completely against the war on drugs, so I do not think this guy should have been deported just because of marijuana. However, those who commit more serious crimes should be deported, service or no service.
BlueBurner said "I don't understand how you can enlist in the military without citizenship. Don't you need a social security number?"
Resident Aliens do get Social Security numbers. They get a "Green Card" and a Social Security card because Immigration authorities expect the alien to work and pay taxes, and one cannot legally do that without these. Resident Aliens can serve in the military. They can and should apply for citizenship after 5 years of legal residency. Committing crimes, including possession and sale of illegal drugs, disqualify a Resident Alien from receiving US citizenship and they are grounds for deportation.
What dumbass writing the caption called a beret a "barrett"?
Do you people even go to J-school anymore?
Being in the "service" of America does not give a hibitual law breaker non citizen any rights to live in this country. It is a shame these veterans decided to abuse the privilage to be called an American citizen.
Nettle # 2.10, no fair setting the record straight. No fair stating unvarnished facts. This forum is dedicated to anonymous emotional tirades and/or the promotion of opinion as Truth - just 'cause it feels soooo good.
Hilarious!!!!!!
MSN publishing more propaganda to try and drum up support for the dream act.
That's the best they can do to tug at your heartstrings?
A drug dealer from Jamaica, and a Human Trafficker who got caught smuggling more Illegals across the border?
My heart breaks. NOT!
Dream act, think about it. Illegals on paper show no money. On paper, they're all poor as funk.
Who will qualify for financial aid to college, your American Citizen Children
Or Illegals?
THINK!
They will suck up all the financial aid. Our children will get NOTHING!
If he had been in the military when he was arrested for that,he would have been kicked out immediately. He should have known better. I appreciate his service. However,he knew damn well that there were rules and what could happen if he broke them. Serving in the military is a path to citizenship. You get special treatment and priority in your application for that. However,its not a free pass. If your an upstanding law abiding resident alien that chooses to put your life on the line for the country your a guest in,we will repay that gesture. However,if your not law abiding,then we don't want you here. Go home,you have overstayed your welcome.
Only in America. The powers that be will do anything for you when they need someone to fight their politically motivated wars. If they happen to survive, you are not special anymore. The U.S. has an all volunteer military. Millions of U.S. citizens sit back and go about their lives while others enlist and go to war. Those who go to war are called "patriotic". Many end up as dead patriots. If these resident aliens fight in defense of American freedom, they should be automatically given full citizenship. That means that if they commit a crime, they do the time. All you resident aliens who have a propensity for criminal activity should remember this before you enlist. It might save you a lot of grief.
Apparently these people are American enough to die for their country, but not enough to live in it.
They have to change these laws..if another from another country is risking his/her life for the USA and wants to live here..they should be able too after their tour is over.
How the hell they get paid military pay without a social security number anyway (hiring illegals it seems then)? Another great loop hole like the wealthy finds in our American system?
If you get caught with weed in the US Army, and are a US citizen, you would not go to Leavenworth. At the height of the Iraq war, it's possible nothing would have happened, or you would've lost some stripes.
Most often, you're just booted with a general or OTH discharge and no confinement.
While I do think that if you have a DD-214 in your hand you deserve your citizenship. I also feel that if you don't have enough respect for the US to obey its laws then you should be sent packing. This goes for people that are born here also if we only had a third world country to take them off our hands.
I just knew somebody'd take me seriously.
And why should we need a third world country to take 'em off our hands? Just load 'em in boats, take 'em outside the 3 mile limit, and throw 'em overboard. Problem solve. Next question?
We do have a third world country we can send them to ....Washington DC
Severed, you reduce the value of my US Citizenship with your negative human value.
It is honorable that he served in the military, it should have taught him not to break the law. IF he had become a full citizen he would be a criminal and face jail for these acts like any other citizen/veteran. A a resident alien he can not break these laws without losing his resident status regardless of service. Serve honorable and live honorable. We punish our veterans who break the laws.
The military should have known that the men who enlisted were not citizens, so why did they take them? They took them because most of you posting have watched 1 too many war movies and think that you can fight in a war, then come to this thread (or something on a similar subject) and claim to be veterans when indeed you're not.
In the late 60's the military was so desperate for a head count they struck deals with our penal system, they were taking men directly out of the prisons (before they finished serving their time) and sending them to Viet Nam. Most so called young men then were not interested in "serving their country" for example, President Bush II for one and his Vice President Cheney. They both wormed their way out but later when too old to serve were more than glad to send some else's sons and daughters to Afganistan and later Iraq.
I think you're right about that Allison. The military should be a place of honor, not a dumping ground for criminals and people without political connections.
The military knows that you do not have to be an American citizen in order to serve. That's obvious just from reading the article. So why do you write, "The military should have known that the men who enlisted were not citizens, so why did they take them?"
Because it isn't a requirement for military service. I served in the Air Force. A roommate, a fellow airman, was a citizen of England. So what?
The call was to 'serve in the US military and get your citizenship!' They didn't mention the red tape and the fact that you can't be a citizen if you behave like the Politiicans who made this bogus offer. You guys were supposed to get killed in the war, not come back and complete the 'deal.' New World Order just keeps passing laws against the 99% while the 1% run amok and commit billions of dollars worth of crimes.
Per the mortgage deal today.... NONE of these 1% criminals are going to jail, but this guy smokes weed and sells a bit to other ADULTS and he's deported. People protest these criminals and get arrested, NDAA get's passed so the military can unlawfully and indefinetly detain US citizen activists on US soil. US invades New Zealand to arrest and detain their citizens for 'allegedly breaking' American law not even in effect on the bet that Rupert Murdoch could purchase the passing of ALEC created SOPA/PIPA laws in violation of 1st amendment rights. Hundreds of OWS protestors, of all ages, race, creed and color, have been arrested and not ONE 1%'r has even been investigated by the fricking IRS. This 12 year GOP march to facisim is alarmingly transparent and the whole worlds watching those fools on the hill and their 1% Puppetmasters just like they watched Hitler. Time to go to the UN and appeal for intervention against these Nazi's in DC who, when they aren't passing unconstitutional laws, are bullying and trying to control women's vaginas. Enough is enough! Cowards with money, every damn one of them trying to turn this country into their own personal Dumb*uckistan.
It's an herb.
Eat the 1%.
Too much fat, too tough and too much grissle.
Obviously the guy is hiding the truth...He doesn't know if he was honorably discharged or not. If he served, he got a DD-214...that alone tells everyone his discharge title and retention level...the guy is a liar or he can't read.
He admitted to mugging people, that alone should put him in prison for life...selling pot is against the law dude...get out and stay out...we have enough thugs in this country.
That's right. If he can't find his DD-214, he can get a copy. All he has to do is apply.
I see an article on one individual that mentions hundreds. What is fact here and what is enhanced truth? First off it has never been true that simply serving in the military automatically makes you a U.S. citizen. I remember having Filipino friends in the Navy that still had waiting periods and were required to go through what every other new citizen had to complete to be considered a citizen. Simply serving in the military did not fulfil the the requirements for citizenship. In this case the individual has been found guilty of felony's. It sounds as though he has stepped on his own dinky.
What a mess!.
If I were to move to a different country, I would certainly see to it that my paperwork was legal as a number one priority. That would be my responsability. No one elses.
While I have a deep respect for anyone putting themselves in harms way to protect me, and my family, and country, I cannot accept the actions of thieves, muggers, or any violent crimes. Clearly the violent offenders are subject to bannishment, if thier paperwork is incomplete.
I have a different opinion about the pot smoker. As a libertarian, I see no constitutional ground for enforcing any prohibitions. That is not freedom, or persuit of happyness. The question I am concerned about is weather this man had his citizenship paperwork complete or not.
A person who was accepted by the military, as a citizen, and sent into harms way, has no buisness being deported. Fined yes, jailed yes, deported no. This seems like a double jeapardy to me. It is also very 2-faced of our government .
I am very much against illegal immigration, I am not against legal immigration however, but immigration should be tied together with an abundance of available jobs, and the unemployment rate.
The least the government should do, is to pay for any military related healthcare needs, and a severance pay package to replace lost military bennefits every other serviceman would recieve. That much is an outrage.
Obviously it is not wise to join a foriegn military, without becoming a citizen first. The grey area that needs correcting, is the part where you are considerd a legal citizen, but can be deported for committing a crime.
Either you are a citizen or not. There should be nothing in-between.
Maybe we should create the US Foreign Legion? Oh wait, silly me, we have. They call(ed) it Blackwater.
This is crap! This is not what a vet deserves.
You know if we spent as much time and money building up Mexico's industry as we have China's, we would have a friend next door and all the illegals would go home for jobs, and we would be crossing the border into Mexico looking for work.
Sorry ,they wouldn't want to learn english plus who wants to live in mexoganistan!
I think Canada has done pretty well because of comprehensive trade. And, like I said, if we had invested as much in mexoganistan as you call it, it might have actually ended up with a stronger economy than the US. Without a drug trade that was created out of poverty, it might have been quite a nice place to live. Heck the richest man in the world is from Mexico.
Nope, John. PMEX showed it doesn't work there.
Some would say get out.... I would ask the people who were born here..... What have you done for your country? Most would only be able to say..... Lip service! I will let the veterans weigh in on this subject.... myself I am only a lip service individual....... There isn't a war worthy of my service to this country... hasn't been for a long time.
John,
That's because there hasn't been a war where America was actually defending itself since WWII. War now means the need to sacrifice one's self to further the interests of American global influence
"I thought I was a citizen", or, being deported for breaking the law while you are a guest here is not excusable because you are a veteran. There are plenty of U.S Citizens who have served in other countries armed forces, (Legally) - they break the rules there, they suffer the consequences. Should it be any different here ? I had the pleasure of serving for over 21 years with persons from other branches of service, and from other countries, so, I know first hand our armed forces are not immune from persons who break the law, or do so after they serve honorably. You get busted selling dope and you get deported and you figure you should get a free pass because you were a veteran? My Give A F#@K Sympathy- Meter is pegged at zero.
Why don't you support your raving with empirical evidence. ClamChop is an example of why the world hates the USA.
@1noone Last time I received a traffic ticket, I didn't break out a copy of my discharge papers and tell the officer to give me a free pass because I served in OPERATIONS Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch and Iragi Freedom (I deployed 5 times, names are getting fuzzy) . - I paid the penalty/fine. " Sorry your honor, I'm a veteran, so, Felonies don't apply to me".... Lets see how well that works in the real world.
Let me guess 1noone, you are on drugs right now. Admit it dude. It's ok, you are abusing a bong right now aren't you ? Everything is all warm and fuzzy with unicorn magic dust and rainbows and free money and food and Prius's for everybody and nobody has to work, well, only those icky rich people so I can sit here sipping my latte and surfing the web on my apple product so I can make fun of "The Man", and pretend I'm all for social justice, and well, i'm really all for anything as long as its free........ Freedom..... something about it not being for free..... somebody paid for that, but I'm not sure who... hang on, time to hit the bong....... burble burble burble.....blub blub blub.....
Unicorn magic dust and rainbows! WTF that's not weed that sounds like angel dust or something else. They fought for this country let them stay and if they did anything illegal put them in jail like everyone else.
Typical American ideals. Use as many as you can then back stab them.
MSNBC needs a copy editor. In your lead photo caption. It's "beret" not "barrett."
Yes, I saw that mistake too, so I Googled "barrett" and found that it has severalmeanings. But when the word is referring to a military hat, it should be "beret." Online spelling, editing, and punctuation is notoriously bad and it's distracting to the story.
Sorry, they knew the rules when they broke the law. How stupid can you be. Doesn't matter whether you served in the military, or the civilian police or even if you served as a politician. You are here as a legal immigrant and you break the rules, you are no longer allowed in this wonderful country. Too bad, so sad.
You've got a point. Just "getting into the military/armed forces" doesn't mean a free ticket. If you're not a native-born enlistee or already fully naturalized, you remain "on probation" in the eyes of the federal immigration laws.
It's no different thatn being on probation at a new job or any other "trial" membership at a college or other certificate-based organization...
Service does not make you immune from laws. Including being in the country illegally.
If you are not here legally, then you should be deported. Regardless of how you live your life.
If you don't want to be deported, follow the law.
What does that have to do with the legal residents being discussed in thi article.
I am in the military & know several guys who have served who are non-citizens.They are encouraged to apply for & receive their citizenship & even offered help,if they need it, to prepare for their citizenship test. If they don't take advantage of the opportunity,it's their own fault! If they get their ass deported because they're criminals,tough!
I have mixed feelings on this. I do think that any person who served in the US military, received an honorable discharge, should be first in line to receive his citizenship papers. I don't see how anyone could/would deny that to that person.
However, while waiting for your citizenship papers, you break the laws of this country, then you do not deserve to be first in line, and whatever happens after that, well, personal responsibilty comes into play. That is my take on this problem. Like one poster said, the veterans, and thank you one and all for serving, should have the most right to speak out about this.
Only a very small percentage of these non-citizen veterans get arrested for crimes. In addition, ICE's policy is to review deportation of each one of them on a case by case basis. That would seem to be more than fair for what is a rather small number of such veterans who become convicted criminals.
The article seems to be drumming up sympathy for ALL non-citizen veterans by only talking about specific cases involving CONVICTED CRIMINALS!!!! C'mon. Readers are not that stupid. By the way, Mr. Barajas was in the Army for 6 years and therefore knows full well that paperwork and procedures must be complied with in very specific and detailed fashion in order for an action (such as official citizenship) to be approved and formally issued. His statements and sentiment that he thought US citizenship just magically happened to him, without completing formal procedures, is phoney and pure nonsense. He never bothered to complete the citizenship process! Readers are suppose to feel sorry for him??? Ridiculous.
So, why has Obama's uncle not yet been deported, since he's not even a legal resident?
Because he is not Mexican.
Another clear reason we need to stop all of this monkey business. How did these people get into the United States only to have the problem compounded by allowing them to serve in the armed forces? Access to my land must be denied for aliens, and mass deportation effected to rid the country of all illegal aliens. Need a better qualified job applicant? How about training Americans for those jobs by stopping the destruction of our educational system that is open to all in the country, even though they may be illegal. After all, the Supreme Court has said that if they're here, we have to educate them. The resolution is to assure that they are NOT here. Get the illegals off my land, off my roads, out of my schools, and out of my pocket, and oh! out of my armed forces too.
Why don't these US Veterans simply state the real reason for not applying for citizenship? They volunteered for the military. The got hooked on drugs. They then left the military and didn't have the money to apply for citizenship because they were drug users. Now our government deports them . Government saves on the medical care and GI benefits.Thank You very much, Good Bye
Do you all think we have rights? well guess what, we don't have any rights. we do have priveledges if we are good citizens.If we are bad, we pay the consequences.
These poor criminals are paying Twice.
If the U.S. lets them wear a Military uniform, then the U.S. can let them stay.
Yeah, that is great reasoning, so any gang member the Mexican cartels get into the US military automatically is a citizen...stick to watching the first lady's tush getting larger!
Why would you join the military when you are in the cartel? Cartel pays better. If you are a cartel member you are doing worse things like killing why would you give a damn about being a legal resident. If you get deported come back simple.
makes me disgusted to live here
glad you don't live near me with that attitude
Go serve in Mexico's military fighting the cartels. When you are done serving, maybe they will make you a citizen..
PROBLEM SOLVED! (I will help you pack your bags...)
Get a grip Brian. Hessians fought with the British and French soldiers fought alongside Colonial minutemen and militia during the American Revolution. People have been fighting in foreign wars ever since the first war started.
So, they can fight and die for us, and the Government says, thanks guys, now get out of here? We never did this before. I find this disgusting.
art... when they break the law they can have citizenship revoked.. did you read this:
Yes, he "served" but forgot what he was serving other than himself after he got out.
"we never did this before" ? BS. My wife came from Colombia and she became a citizen after many years, thru the right channels. It says right on the documents that she signed, that if you lie about anything or are wanted that the citizenship can be revoked.
Plus, idiots that renounce citizenship can be kicked out after they commit crimes.