Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says new Department of Homeland Security data show the Trump administration began deporting hundreds of veterans and their families, breaking earlier promises to protect immigrants who enlisted for military service.
Warren said, “Donald Trump’s way of thanking our veterans for their service is by targeting and deporting them and their families.” She continued, “The Trump administration must be held accountable for this betrayal.”
Data from the congressional investigation indicate that in the first year of the second Trump administration, ICE arrested 125 veterans, most without an active criminal warrant, and initiated deportation proceedings against 282 veterans and relatives who had previously been protected under earlier policies.
USCIS referred more than 100 immediate relatives of veterans for deportation after denying Military Parole in Place applications, in some cases while applications were still pending.
These findings follow ICE’s decision to discontinue its policy that considered military service, replacing it with one that provides fewer protections. At the same time, military recruiting continues, despite reduced or withdrawn immigration benefits.
Warren co-led the investigation with Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as well as Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), and Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.).
Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost both legs serving in Iraq, called the enforcement actions “absolutely unconscionable” and added, “There is no higher betrayal to our heroes than to be deported by the same nation they sacrificed to defend.”
Durbin demanded that the practice be halted immediately. “Wearing our country’s uniform in service is an ultimate sign of patriotism,” he said, adding that detained or deported veterans “deserve to be reunited with their loved ones, brought back, and issued an apology.”
Goodlander described the situation as a violation of the nation’s covenant with service members, saying, “We make a sacred promise to every patriot who serves our country in uniform: we will stand by you and your family. Betraying that promise by going after veterans is dishonorable and dangerous.”
Houlahan called on USCIS to reverse course. “Non-citizen servicemembers have answered the call to defend our country, and they deserve respect and due process in return,” she said.
The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly commented on the lawmakers’ findings.
Warren said, “Donald Trump’s way of thanking our veterans for their service is by targeting and deporting them and their families.” She continued, “The Trump administration must be held accountable for this betrayal.”
Data from the congressional investigation indicate that in the first year of the second Trump administration, ICE arrested 125 veterans, most without an active criminal warrant, and initiated deportation proceedings against 282 veterans and relatives who had previously been protected under earlier policies.
USCIS referred more than 100 immediate relatives of veterans for deportation after denying Military Parole in Place applications, in some cases while applications were still pending.
These findings follow ICE’s decision to discontinue its policy that considered military service, replacing it with one that provides fewer protections. At the same time, military recruiting continues, despite reduced or withdrawn immigration benefits.
Warren co-led the investigation with Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as well as Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), and Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.).
Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost both legs serving in Iraq, called the enforcement actions “absolutely unconscionable” and added, “There is no higher betrayal to our heroes than to be deported by the same nation they sacrificed to defend.”
Durbin demanded that the practice be halted immediately. “Wearing our country’s uniform in service is an ultimate sign of patriotism,” he said, adding that detained or deported veterans “deserve to be reunited with their loved ones, brought back, and issued an apology.”
Goodlander described the situation as a violation of the nation’s covenant with service members, saying, “We make a sacred promise to every patriot who serves our country in uniform: we will stand by you and your family. Betraying that promise by going after veterans is dishonorable and dangerous.”
Houlahan called on USCIS to reverse course. “Non-citizen servicemembers have answered the call to defend our country, and they deserve respect and due process in return,” she said.
The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly commented on the lawmakers’ findings.
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