Many deported U.S. veterans hope for path to citizenship | Nightline
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- Опубліковано 12 лип 2023
- Navy veteran Joe Rico is one of many non-citizen veterans who have been fighting to get back to the U.S. after being deported for non-violent crimes.
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From a fellow veteran, if you serve the military you should get automatic citizenship! This is so heartbreaking 💔 I’m in tears😢 this is crazy!!!
Exactly. Especially if you serve in conflict.
@@DaneReidVoiceOver what conflict??? the one you started ??? all veterans are sociopaths so....... less of you in the USA may help your country.
That's how my great uncles got citizenship some fought in WW1 and others WW2 for the US and received citizenship. Their older sister automatically became a US citizen because she was living in California when it became a State.
But paperwork is always important to make sure you fille it.
No they should not. Lol. If they break the law, or fail to apply/follow up, while in service, they should be deported. What are you talking about?
@@Jujubean9795You should try fighting in the frontline then come back here.
Reminds me of when that older Chinese immigrant who fought for our country and had been shot in the chest, opened his shirt in front of a bunch of people at a board meeting showing his horrible scar and said “is this American (or patriotic idr) enough for you?”
Minorities have been war heroes for this country, to see them treated this way, it messed up. They put their lives on the line for this country, and they won't even give them the right to live here.
The president of that country sent his daughter to Harvard. I wonder if they’ll use it for their country or america😂!!
Its sad he even had to do that watershed moment historical moment I remember that. Thats a movie moment its Jack Nicholes you cant handle the truth. He had to show what put on the line for people to understand
@@achildsheart4658HIS daughter is an AMERICAN
@@YYC403NOYP yea and im the short stop for the Mets
As far as I'm concerned that guy is more American than those politicians that want to kick him out
Nope. I'm the most American cause I was born here.
Thank you, he’s home leave him there
Yes he is, he is indigenous, Mexican's are native americans, they were here and part of the US before it was sold, Nobody who is indigenous is "illegal" to the americas, and its also funny how the people deporting them, if you asked where they originated from, its half way across the world!
@@RollerBladingSuxsyou’re an American coward by birth.
@@Lindsay_Cox The ancient Chinese were the first inhabitants of America.
Leave No One Behind!!! God Bless Our Veteran's!!!
He’s blessed in his home country
Yessss, in America
They left themselves behind by not following the rules, homie.
A freaking US veteran was deported??? He served our country!!! He deserves respect and help with his mental health, not punishment… This is heartbreaking 💔
no, he broke the law , he needs to go
@@hjkjccdggjhvbSays a coward with a keyboard. Bet you wouldn't say it to his face. I work for the VA before & your dumb ass comment is exactly why most Veterans are taking themselves out. I guarantee if you aren't Native American whose people were always here, or African American whose Ancestors were brought here, then your "Ancestors" were illegal immigrants. More people came here illegal, rather than legal and he at least served his Country. Go play in Oncoming traffic a**hole.
He needs to learn how to fill out the immigration forms.
@@hjkjccdggjhvb You clearly have no compassion or empathy in you…
They found Time to do the Crime but not the Paperwork of Their Contract!
So not only did he waste years of his life in prison (and, arguably, the military), but he was also deported. Ridiculous. This is why I call out people who encourage non-citizen immigrants to join the military. It's not a guarantee for anything besides trauma.
Hi
why would you encourage anyone to join the military in the first place????
It’s really messed up. It makes me think about how Black people in the US were treated before the civil rights movement after the came back from the war.
If a non-citizen serves in the military, that should me automatic citizenship. That’s crazy that it isn’t.
@@daCubanaqt That's because first of all you need an honorable discharge. And serving a country doesn't mean you're exempt from consequences for making mistakes. If a non-citizen rapes your wife which is a felony and he just happened to have served in the military should that person still get citizenship? And if law abiding civilian non-citizens have to live up to the same vetting standards why should folks be exempted from them just because they were ex-military? Race has nothing to do with it.
They don't even take care of the American citizens vets.
I greatly appreciate his patriotism, especially as an immigrant, when so many American born citizens are not. However, his military service doesn’t overshadow the fact that he sold meth. Even though he did not kill anyone directly, he may have done so with the drugs he sold to Americans. So, I don’t feel sorry that he (and other veteran criminals like him) was deported. Furthermore, failing to stay on top of his citizenship application while in service is his fault. Military leadership (especially Legal, the Retention NCO, and EO) are very helpful to assist their service members, but it is the responsibility of the service member to stay on top of the status of their application.
Alot of people here wont respect non-White or non-US citizen veterans, but will ride their ancestors service in WW2 to no end as if its equal to them having served
No veterans are respected. Wtf are you on? Have you seen how many white veterans that are on our streets while these illegal migrants get housing? You’re crazy
Spot on
He served. GIVE HIM HIS EARNED CITIZENSHIP.
Nah...he broke the law...he's a disgrace
You have severe comprehension problems. HOMIE BROKE TH LAW!
he should've had citizenship completed after bootcamp, automatically. Its a failure of the law.@@Aikynbreusov
@@AikynbreusovOh yes, because he's the only veteran who has every broken a law.
I feel they should be taking Veterans to Rehabs and help them get clean and citizenship not deporting them.
Agreed 👍
I think if you're a veteran and you get deported you should still be able to get health care. I agree that he was deported because he sold drugs. If you just did drugs then he should of been offered treatment. If you join any of the armed forces and don't cause harm you should be able to stay and receive free healthcare.
And people wonder why no one is signing up to join the military nowadays.
This is an insane topic. Deported and veteran should not be used on the same sentence 😢
Being a U.S. military vet., isn’t a get outta jail card! Laws are laws!!! You break ‘em, it comes with a price!!! Doesn’t matter who you are!!!
!! Yes, I served too!!!
Thank you for your services. Im proud of you sir!
Thanks
Exactly why is this happening.
That judge was nuts.
He sold meth dude
The judge could only follow the law. It's the laws and America's treatment of veterans that are nuts.
Even if he wanted to help him, he literally sold a schedule II drug. That makes you automatically ineligible for parole in place or citizenship. Bro should of made sets of copies for his package and kept sending it every year or even half year. Dude threw it all away to make a quick buck off of his drugs.
Never knew that you could serve in the military and not be a citizen. I would think you should get citizenship as soon as you serve in the military.... If not, I would never serve in the military for a country where I was not a citizen. The military already treats veterans terribly after they served to begin with, even when they are citizens...
What part of "He came illegally do you not understand"?
@frankm7254 He was not illegal, he had a green card you retard. Do you actually believe that you can be an illegal and serve in the military. You must get all your information from watching info wars. Just stay in your safe bubble of information. Please don't try to have an intelligent conversation. you're not up for it.
You can, with a work permit, student visa, having a green card and other visas
@@frankm7254ah yes. At 4 years old he choose that 👌
He had legal residency status, he had a visa.
I served with many SMs that actively looked out for themselves and got their Citizenship while in the Service. I can’t feel sorry they weren’t proactive and got their citizenship.
Unfairly deported? You had your day in court and was sentenced accordingly. What's unfair about that?
His A vet
When did you serve and which branch!??? If you never served be quiet!!!
@@ocelotl4655 Why exactly should anyone have to serve just to give a valid opinion in a democracy? The immigration laws of America apply to all people whether civilians or military. Only in very specific situations like expedited naturalization or maybe in employment and benefits do they get special treatment over civilians. Now as far as deportation is concerned there is no such exception. What the government is doing is obviously tweaking "policy" to pander to their voting bloc.
He shouldn't have been given a "parole" just coz he was ex-military. That's discrimination against those civilians who were deported for a felony like himself but still cannot enter the US for at least 10 years.
I say if these non-citizen vets served in our military and saw action, then it's only fair they should get a full US Citizenships as a Thank You!
Serving our country does not give you a free pass to commit felony offenses. You should have committed to becoming a productive law abiding person if not a citizen. Our country has enough citizen felons that we have to deal with. It’s easier to deport non citizen felons than have to deal with them after being released into society. To get deported you have to be a felon.
Army ethos:
Mission first
Never quit
Never accept defeat
Never leave a fallen comrade
Welcome home fellow veteran, let’s bring the others back home also.
They served the country. They deserve the legal status
Navy seems to do this a lot. I know a veteran that retired as a chief corpsman who had the same problem.
He shouldn't have been allowed to join the military in the first place if he was not even a US citizen. Wtf?
that is shitty of you america..These people fought for the the country..This is a warning to vets that are citizens
"These people fought for the the country". Seriously I never heard someone studdering when they type.
@@frankm7254 It's spelled "stuttering", by the way! Pot calling the kettle black.
They just wanna live in a 1st world country.
Thanks for your service sir, and it sucks that you served and are treated this way as far as I see you fought to be American and you served so you should be allowed to stay, yes you made mistakes we all do, but adleast you showed you love america and I appreciate you😊
INS lost all papers submitted for a friend of mine. Seems to be the same issues as always.
Wow so messed up. Needed help instead got deported.
Gracias por sus servicios a este hermoso país. Bien venido otra vez.
if u do the crime and u end up serving more then a year in jail, u need to go. Veterans or not, the doors that way
Some individuals may question the authenticity of the claim that these individuals encountered issues with their citizenship application. It is worth noting that there are servicemen and women who believe that citizenship is not necessary, as they receive the same benefits as citizens.
In my personal experience, after arriving in this country with a green card, I served two combat tours and was encouraged by the military to file for citizenship due to my deployment to a war zone. I eventually became a U.S. citizen at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, with the presence of Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.
During the ceremony, I was surprised to meet individuals who had served for as long as nine years as green card holders.
Damn that’s messed up. Served his country even went to war. I have a special place in my hearts when it comes to combat veterans.
Im a deported veteran 25 years ago. from desert storm, still waithing in tj. My granmpa serve in ww2 and my father in corea and Vietnam
Did you see if you can get return? Get a pardon
No I don't owe anything .....
This should not be a thing.
If anyone deserves a second chance it’s a veteran. We broke them, it’s our job to fix them
You are not given automatic citizenship for serving in the military they tell you there are forms that you have to go online and fill out to get your citizenship if they didn't take the time to fill out the forms that's thier problem not the U.S
PAYMENT for MILITARY SERVICE should include CITIZENSHIP > NOT DEPORTATION after DUTY by AMERICA!
Just because you serve in the military does not give you automatic citizenship you're supposed to fill out forms while you're in the service if you don't do those forms that's your problem not the U.S's problem
He committed a serious crime. Deal with the consequences of your own actions. I became us citizen after 2yrs I got out. Stayed out of trouble and no drugs.
👀 Many might not understand this, but no government agency, including the military is going to chase you down for paperwork that benefits you.
You have to stay on top of your administrative responsibilities in order to benefit. The fact that a lot of people lose in this area is because they push it off and procrastinate.
Then when it’s time to move onto the next chapter, it becomes a big issue
You can tell how a country is by the way it treats its veterans
lol
Unreal!! So not fair!!
Very real !!!!!!!! So fair !!!!!!!!!!
He Served, He Died, Award him Citizenship of USA. That's how USA will remain Great.
Tell the Full Story. These veterans were too Lazy to fill out the Paperwork that would have Prevented their Deportation even with a Criminal Conviction! They sign a contract and were too Lazy to do the Paperwork. Give the Full Story and not the Sad Story!
Bro just sneak back in like everyone else lol
welcome back home, brother!!!
All the years in the United States and his mom still can't speak English that should be a requirement for being in the U.S .
instead of the U.S HAVING TO PRINT DOCUMENTS OR ANYTHING IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH.
I am a veteran who helped soldiers file their naturalization forms. I can tell you that those who said it was too difficult to fill them out are incorrect. Also many are told time and again to file. Some don’t want to to do it because they don’t want another background check.
Thank You for your services. Someone who suffers from PTSD and depression I understand the struggles we face we’re only human stay strong and carry on.
Sounds like he dropped the ball on his packet.
This has been going on for years people
They were used by the ARMY and then discarded, like trash
Used to be a path
Some of our best soldiers...
This is a shame
Deporting Veterans is the worst thing that could be done. Get these vets back home ASAP
Dude how tf you getting deported after risking your life for our country. Crazy times 🤦♂️
And as a veteran myself, I consider this guy is far more of an american citizen than the politicians that kicked him out. At least he earned it. I doubt the judge, proc. attorney, or anyone else involved in his case didn't...
He earned his right to be in america by his ethnicity, he is indigenous, he earned it was before he was in the the armed forces.
🙄 1) He lived here since 4 yrs old but never bothered to complete US citizenship filings then became a drug dealer. That's like saying, I corrupted and helped murder kids but don't kick me out because I'm a veteran. 2) Race, Ethnicity, and Citizenship are all different things. Just because he's Mexican, it doesn't automatically entitled him to live in the US because Texas was once a part of Mexico. For example, if you sold your land and house to someone else and now they're the new owner, are you still entitled to come and go as you please or live on that land in that house without the new owner's approval, or will you get evicted and jailed?
Being granted citizenship thru naturalization is a privilege. Being a veteran you prolly already know that a privilege can be taken away from you for various reasons. Just like an honorable discharge it's something that you earn and can lose it if you don't play by the rules.
If you fight for this country, you deserve to live in it, end of discussion
If you care so
much you can leave too
@@undisputedtruth6176 he earned his spot to live here unlike the fat loser who didn't fight for your country like yourself
Such a special case.
Bring our hero home!
Unfortunately, we are working with hundreds of deported Veterans to bring them back to the U.S. It’s very very sad and an American travesty!
Heroes don't become drug dealers.
@@pohanahawaiii think people forget or choose to ignore the true horrors of dealing drugs…. Ruining lives, families, and even the deaths because of it.
@@hotmess9640 : 🤔 They're only sorry because they got caught. I doubt this guy would've stopped on his own and find an alternative career paths away from guns and drugs . South America is awashed in drugs and gangs for a reason.
He's a Cowboys fan, give him immediate citizenship!!
We have our priorities upside down
How you serve and get deported?
I feel you brother in arms...Keep up and AIRBORNE!
Anyone who serves their country is a hero and deserves citizenship
Damn shame!!!!! Help our veterans
and to think the military have a historic low enrollment, Iwonder why?
I think this is unconscionable absolutely unconscionable. Congress should make this right. The VA should help him,
Make What, right?
That whole policy regarding veterans need to change.
what a shame, the dude served our country and was deported like he was nothing... this is such a shame for us.
❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢❤❤❤Same here in my heart I Will Always be American even thought I was top deported lived in the USA since I was 9 Yeats old 1995 AND was Deported un 2010
Usmc 0311 tears of joy
If someone was allowed to serve in the US military and deal with the issues that come from that then they should have automatic citizenship immediately upon discharge from the services.
Go Hawkeyes. Wonder the connection to him and Iowa.
I lived in Iowa, enlisted in Iowa, after active duty, was in the reserves with the Seabees out of Des Moines 1515. Convicted in Iowa. Plus a son and a fiancé are in iowa. Went to college in iowa, iowa is my second home apart from Texas
Dude, you fkd up. The documentation/process to apply for citizenship when you're a service member is way way easier than doing it the "regular" way. It took me like 7 months from when i turned in my application to when i did the interview, and i got sowrn in that day.
This is a crime!!! He's a vet. He fought for us.
Not fair
US is so confuse
How can you join the military if you are not a citizen..... that is insane.... or if that is the way it is, then the person should automatically become a citizen to join, that should be all one thing.... we should not have people that are not citizens in the military.... so make them citizens immediately.
The way it should be, once you've done your full first enlistment, you should then have automatic citizenship.
No
The government is forcing me to not get help and forcing me to not see my family anymore.
As a female Vetaran, this shatters my heart! This should NOT be happening. Let’s bring them home!
Why didnt you get your citizenship while you were in? Thats what i did.
This is not how we treat the people that fought for our freedom
Iraq was for our freedom
Crazy how they USA can spit in his face and hes still trying to return. Dude just move elsewhere. Go where you are wanted.
This is stupid. There are consequences for breaking the law. Why is this so hard for people to understand?
You clearly hate your vets. He’s struggled because of war.
Wow a man help the country fight a war but the country won’t help the man fight addiction. This is preposterous 😢
This is not the kind of person you want to deport.
I’m happy for him being granted a chance to come back… I believe the BEST strategy for vets like John is for these convicted deported veterans apply for pardons… Achieving a pardon can be easier to obtain with philanthropic work history… Such as UN Peacekeeping Forces service, service to the peace corps, volunteering for humanitarian relief endeavors like volunteering for UNICEF, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and other nonprofit organizations… I undoubtedly believe with volunteer work history they will DRAMATICALLY INCREASE the chances of deported veterans to apply and receive a pardon… with their criminal convictions pardoned returning to America should be easy…
LDRSHIP SEMPER FIDELIS
Let's make this simple....6 months in a combat zone or 2 years of enlisted service should be automatic US citizenship. As long as dishonorable proceedings aren't already initiated prior to those times, citizenship needs to be automatic.
If we are willing to let them fight for our freedoms and values, they should be granted those freedoms and values. The good and the bad. Citizens are still subject to being punished for violating the law. They just don't get kicked out of the country.
They better than me and others who was born in the USA they served the country to protect us that’s messed up America Government make it right
So many in the comments have such a boner for the law, but hate paying taxes, and following the law to a T.
Deporting Veterans is fucking insane. They served in this country. Especially in cases like these where they develop addiction due to trauma caused by said service. I'll give Biden credit for his initiative helping this man. Regardless, we need to do more
And why were they deported? Thaaaaaats right. Criminal activity.
Actions have consequences
True that
not true, non citizens or non permanent residents cannot join
I think, veterans should have free medical insurance for life and if not then at the very lowest rate possible to help them fight psychological issues they encounter due to the battles where some of them were sent. Though the wars nowadays are not what they used to be but still every war is a war with scary consequences. There is a movie, I think it’s “Generation Kill”, very good one and it reflects the present.
They do, it's called the VA.
It a crazy problem but can easily be prevented just don't allow non-citizen to serve.....
I am a permanent resident too tricked by an American recruiter I never got my $3k bonus and fearing America would discard me just because I am not a citizen after I have served my time. I'm 4 years in!
Yes I never received my $3k bonus recruiters are deceptive and since I'm only 17 and recently moved to United States 3 months before meeting a recruiter. Don't be fooled! I couldn't process my citizenship due to my responsibilities and duties.
They are citizens of whatever country they are now in !!
True, but we’re still American vets
@joserico3101 and thank you don't take vaccines