Vietnam veterans at risk of being deported
SAN ANTONIO – Valente and Manuel Valenzuela, two brothers who served in the Vietnam War and now are in their 60s, are facing deportation by the U.S. government they fought to protect.
The two say they are not alone and spent this weekend in San Antonio as part of an awareness campaign to shed light on immigration policies that lead to deportation of undocumented veterans in the U.S. military.
“We feel like we're fighting another war, but this time, it's against the government of the very country we love and grew up wanting to protect,” Manuel Valenzuela said in an interview Sunday.
Manuel, 61, is a former Marine who carried out rescue missions, and Valente, 65, was an Army soldier who was wounded in combat and received a Bronze Star. Both were born to a mother who was a native of New Mexico but were erroneously listed as resident aliens on their birth certificate. They said the military told them would make sure they were given citizenship after serving.
But about 40 years later, the Department of Homeland Security is trying to deport them to Mexico, a country they have not been to since childhood, after stricter laws were later enacted that provoke deportation of veterans with misdemeanor convictions who aren't documented as citizens.
The brothers said their criminal records include only misdemeanors: Manuel for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Valente for domestic violence. The offenses were committed more than 10 years ago, and the brothers contend they have paid their debt to society for the misdeeds.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Vietnam-veterans-at-risk-of-being-deported-4855055.php
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