Congressman and Marine Corps Veteran Ruben Gallego Introduces Legislation to Prevent the Deportation of Immigrant Service Members and Veterans
Washington, DC – Today, following reports that the Trump administration is moving to deport immigrants who served in our Armed Forces, Rep. Gallego (D-AZ) reintroduced legislation that would prevent the removal of service members and veterans. The Restoring Respect for Immigrant Service in Uniform Act would also help deported veterans to reunite with their families in the United States.
Specifically, the bill limits the current grounds of deportability to prevent the removal of a service member or veteran who has served at least 6 months in the military and who has not committed a serious crime. It would also affirm the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security's ability to use his powers under current law to readmit veterans into the United States who have been deported and who have not committed a serious crime.
"President Trump's anti-immigrant bigotry knows no bounds," said Rep. Gallego. "Under his administration, immigrants who have put their lives on the line for our freedom are now facing deportation. That's outrageous and unacceptable and should deeply trouble every American – Republican or Democrat. Congress must act before brave veterans are separated from their families and expelled from the country they love and have fought to defend."
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