Legislation was reintroduced in the House on Tuesday that would protect deported immigrant veterans who were forced to leave the U.S. following a criminal conviction.
Reps. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) revived the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, a bill that would protect veteran immigrants with a criminal record from forced deportation and provide a track to permanent legal residency after completing their sentences.
“If you are willing to put your life on the line to defend this great nation and its values, you should be able to become a U.S. citizen,” said Young.
“It is inexcusable that service members who risked it all to protect us would be put through the deportation process."
The same bill was filed last year but ultimately went nowhere when then-chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) blocked it. But now that Democrats are in control of the House, advocates, and lawmakers are trying once more.
Goodlatte did not seek reelection.
“These veterans served their countries, and in return, we turned our backs on them,” said Gonzalez, who added that the bill was in honor of Carlos Jaimie Torres, a deported U.S. Army veteran who was only able to come back to the United States after he died.
"He passed away in Reynosa, Mexico – across the river from his home in McAllen, Texas," he said.
"We reintroduce this bill for Carlos Torres, for the thousands of deported veterans around the world like him, and to prevent this inexcusable practice from happening again. We must repatriate our patriots.”
The measure wouldn't mean deported veterans could begin their journey back to the country they once served. Some would be eligible to become a naturalized citizen while living abroad, excluding those convicted of more violent crimes such as involuntary manslaughter, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, or terrorism.
It would also require the Department of Homeland Security to create an application program for eligible veterans to return to the United States lawfully.
While the bill has more of a chance in the House, the Senate is another matter. But if the bill manages to clear both chambers and signed into law, veterans who meet the requirements would be eligible to restore military and veterans benefits.