- Title: Deported U.S. military veterans meet with members of Congress in border city
- Date: 4th June 2017
- Summary: TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO (JUNE 03, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE DEPORTED VETERANS SUPPORT HOUSE WITH A U.S. FLAG OUTSIDE A U.S. VETERAN STANDING OUTSIDE THE SUPPORT HOUSE SPEAKING WITH ANOTHER VETERAN U.S. VETERAN PUTTING ON MILITARY BERET CLOSE-UP OF VETERAN'S T-SHIRT THAT SAYS, "BRING HOME DEPORTED VETERANS" U.S. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARRIVING AND GREETING VETERANS DEPORTED VETERAN SHOWING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LIST OF DEPORTED VETERANS THE SUPPORT HOUSE HELPS REPRESENTATIVE NANETTE BARRAGAN OF CALIFORNIA'S 44TH DISTRICT (STANDING) SPEAKING WITH SEATED DEPORTED VETERANS BARRAGAN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SHAKING HANDS WITH VETERANS BANNER WITH PICTURES OF VETERANS WHO HAVE DIED SINCE BEING DEPORTED DEPORTED VETERAN SPEAKING WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS READING A POSTER WITH A BILL ON IT REPRESENTATIVE JOAQUIN CASTRO OF TEXAS' 20TH DISTRICT SIGNING THE POSTER OF THE BILL (SOUNDBITE) (English) REPRESENTATIVE JOAQUIN CASTRO OF TEXAS' 20TH DISTRICT, SAYING: "I can't say exactly what the president or what congress will do, but among the American public, many of whom are shocked to learn that these veterans are in the situation that they're in. They don't realize that we're deporting veterans. Many members of congress also do not understand and know that veterans are being deported. We wanted to come here to listen to the stories, but also to take a message back to our fellows in the American Congress and the American People." VETERANS OUTSIDE THE SUPPORT HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPORTED U.S. VETERAN, LUIS VARGAS SALAZAR, SAYING: "As veterans we don't have a contract with the federal magistrate, the one that deported us or with the court system. We don't have a contract with the immigration department. We have a contract with the United States, ok? Now, now that we have that contract where are our benefits? We served honourably for our benefits. Now if they don't allow us to come back home and take their veterans back, they need to start establishing a veterans administration here in Tijuana, in Mexico." CLOSE-UP OF U.S. FLAG HELD UP BY DEPORTED VETERANS DEPORTED VETERANS POSING WITH U.S. FLAG
- Embargoed: 18th June 2017 02:53
- Keywords: immigration navy. deportation marines veterans air force Mexico Joaquin Castro army United States
- Location: TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
- City: TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Race Relations / Ethnic Issues,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JQ4J7R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Members of the U.S. Congress travelled across the border to Tijuana, Mexico on Saturday (June 3) to meet with U.S. military veterans who have been deported here.
Seven lawmakers met with the deported veterans at the Deported Veterans Support House in the border city just across from San Diego, California.
Representative Juan Vargas of California reintroduced the Deported Veterans Bill Package on May 26. According to Vargas' website, the bill would, "prevent veterans from being deported and help veterans that have been deported get access to the medical service they deserve."
Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas said there was no guarantee President Donald Trump or Congress would act, but that he joined the trip in part to bring awareness to the issue he said the American public and many in Congress are not aware of.
The veterans had agreed to serve in the armed forces for a chance at U.S. citizenship, but committed a crime before fully gaining citizenship, but after having been honourably discharged from the military.
In addition to Vargas and Castro the other five members of Congress, all of whom are Democrats, on the trip were Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Lou Correa (CA-46), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), and Nanette Diaz Barragan (CA-44). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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