His attorney is now hoping Illinois senators will act on his behalf.
A Chicago immigration judge ruled last week that an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan be deported back to Mexico, according to a local ABC affiliate.
The decision comes after Miguel Perez Jr. served seven years in prison for a felony drug offense. Perez, 38, was born in Mexico but has lived in the United States since the age of 8. He enlisted in the Army as a legal permanent resident in 2001 and served two tours in Afghanistan with U.S. Special Forces.
“My son served for this country, not for Mexico,” Perez’s mother, Esperanza Medina, told reporters at a Pilsen church on Sunday.
The veteran told The Chicago Tribune that after returning to the U.S. from the war zone, he had trouble finding work and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Perez said he sought treatment at a VA hospital, where they intended to run more tests to confirm a possible traumatic brain injury, but grew discouraged by the drawn-out process.
While he waited, he spent time with a childhood friend who gave him free drugs and alcohol. While with that friend, Perez handed a laptop case full of cocaine to an undercover officer in November 2008. He pleaded guilty and served seven years in a state penitentiary for the drug charge.
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Anyone who serves one or more tours in the U.S. military should be offered a fast track to citizenship.
ReplyDeleteyes but HOW did he get in in the first place?
DeleteRight how did he get in?
DeleteI think the BEST way to deal NON Criminal Illegals is to let them serve 2 yrs in the military and pay a fine and give them citizenship.
ReplyDeleteask the recruiter??
ReplyDeleteHe committed felonies after serving and before citizenship. Deport him!
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed one of those "exceptions to the rule". I agree with Anon 927AM, if you wear the uniform, especially in theater, then you should be granted citizenship automatically upon discharge from federal service. I understand that he somehow got into the military and that is the topic for another discussion but since he did, and he served his country, then an exception should be made here.
ReplyDeleteJust my two cents from a fellow veteran.
ReplyDelete11:18 appears to be on target.
He was a legal Resident Alien. But he apparently lost that status due to his felony conviction. He was on a fast track to citizenship with his Green Card, but it was apparently not sufficiently important to him to pursue. Unfortunate decision.