Rep. Gallego Votes to Support Immigrant Veterans at Risk of Deportation
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) voted to pass H.R. 7946, the Veteran Service Recognition Act, legislation he co-sponsored that creates avenues for noncitizen service members to apply for naturalization and obtain lawful permanent status in the United States.
“Deporting veterans who put their lives on the line in service to the United States—including vets who are suffering as a result of their service—is a failure of basic decency and a failure to honor our men and women in uniform,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07). “These servicemembers should be respected, not deported or denied benefits from the VA. We must keep working to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, but until then, I’ll continue standing up for every veteran, regardless of immigration status.”
The Veteran Service Recognition Act includes four key provisions:
- The bill makes it easier for noncitizens servicemembers to apply for naturalization while in the military;
- It establishes a review process for noncitizen veterans, active service members, and their families who are in removal proceedings;
- The bill provides an opportunity for noncitizen veterans removed or ordered removed, who are not convicted of serious crimes, to obtain legal permanent resident status; and
- It allows eligible immediate family members of noncitizen veterans the ability to adjust their status and obtain a green card.
This legislation builds on Rep. Gallego’s track record of standing up for deported veterans. In 2016, Rep. Gallego first introduced legislation that proposed allowing deported veterans who haven’t committed serious crimes to have a pathway to return to the United States.
To read a one-pager on the legislation, click here.