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Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Applauds House Passage of the Veteran Service Recognition Act

December 6, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House passed the Veteran Service Recognition Act that prevents the unjust deportation of veterans from the United States. Specifically, it authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to provide lawful permanent resident status to noncitizen veterans and servicemembers. The bill also creates an opportunity for deported veterans to apply and obtain lawful permanent residency.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), in addition to this bill, has long advocated for relief and a pathway to citizenship for immigrant servicemembers and veterans seeking naturalization and assistance with deportation cases. We worked closely with Chair Mark Takano and advocated to get this vote before year's end. Previously, the CHC sent a letter to relevant agencies requesting a briefing on the status of IMMVI and highlighted key resources developed by this initiative.

We thank Rep. Mark Takano, Chairman of the House Veteran's Affairs Committee, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Zoe Lofegren, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, CHC Chair Dr. Raul Ruiz, CHC Deputy Chair Nanette Díaz Barragán, CHC Vice Chair of Policy Rep. Darren Soto, CHC Whip Sylvia Garcia, and CHC Members Reps. Raúl Grijalva, Salud Carbajal, Juan Vargas, Lou Correa, Veronica Escobar, and Vicente Gonzalez for their advocacy on this important topic.

CHC Members issued the following statements:

"If you fight and risk your life for our country, you should stay in our country. That's why, the Veteran Service Recognition Act aims to prevent the deportation of noncitizen servicemembers and gives them due process in America and a fair shot at a pathway to citizenship. Today's historic passage of the Veteran Service Recognition Act moves us closer to ensuring that noncitizen veterans are not treated as second-class veterans. I now urge the Senate to act and honor their service," said Chair Dr. Raul Ruiz.

"If you join the U.S. Armed Forces and serve on behalf of this country, you should have a pathway to be granted U.S. citizenship – that unfortunately, is not the current policy. I have always supported legislation to address the growing issue of deported veterans and introduced legislation last year to ensure every noncitizen service member was granted a path to citizenship in the United States. There are currently approximately 45,000 immigrants serving in the military, and 700,000 immigrant Veterans. If our Armed Forces can recruit and train immigrants, they should be able to live in the country they fought for, free from worries about deportation. It is about time that their sacrifice for our country be recognized," said Deputy Chair Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán.

"We are thrilled to see the Veterans Service Recognition Act come for a vote in the House. This legislation includes parts of our Protect Patriot Spouses Act to keep families together and repair our broken immigration system. We introduced our bill in honor of Polk County resident Alejandra Juarez who was deported to Mexico under the Trump Administration despite being part of a military family and having U.S.-born children. Once this bill passes the House, I hope our Senate colleagues will act quickly for all veterans and their families and send this bill to President Biden," said Vice Chair of Policy Rep. Darren Soto.

"Ensuring everyone who has bravely served our Nation is treated with respect and honor, regardless of their immigration status, must be our priority," said CHC Whip Rep. Sylvia Garcia. "Each and every one of our veterans and service members has sacrificed so much in service to our country, now we must do everything in our power to honor their service."

"The families of our servicemembers deserve our respect for their sacrifice, not deportation – and I am pleased to see that the majority of my colleagues in the House agree," said Rep. Salud Carbajal. "I am proud that this measure is now headed to the Senate for its consideration, and I strongly urge my colleagues to act on this and other critical commonsense immigration reforms before the end of this Congress. Bills like the one we approved today, in addition to others that I have co-sponsored like the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and the American Dream and Promise Act, which would codify the DACA program, have languished for too long and left too many families in limbo. We owe it to them to send these bills to President Biden before Congress adjourns at the end of this month."

"Immigrant veterans have risked their lives to keep us safe, and they deserve a pathway to citizenship," said Rep. Juan Vargas. "The Veteran Service Recognition Act is an important step toward giving our immigrant veterans the opportunity to become U.S. citizens. I'm honored to be an original co-sponsor and proud to have voted for this landmark legislation. We should not turn our backs on those who put their lives on the line to secure and defend our freedoms. People who serve our country deserve to stay in our country."

"Veterans risk their lives to protect our nation, and America's promise to take care of our veterans and service members should still apply to these individuals regardless of their immigration status. All veterans and active members gave something to ensure the freedom of our nation. This legislation rectifies a great error against noncitizen service members and honorably discharged veterans in the process of being removed by allowing the DHS Secretary to have discretion to give these veterans the opportunity to remain in the U.S.," said Rep. Lou Correa. "I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to pass the Veteran Service Recognition Act to provide an opportunity for noncitizen service members and veterans to retain or apply for legal permanent resident status. This is an issue about justice for our service members and veterans and these brave individuals should be citizens."

"This country is indebted to immigrants, especially those who have served in our armed forces," said Rep. Veronica Escobar. "The Veteran Service Recognition Act is a first step to creating a more just and fair system for those willing to make the sacrifices required of our servicemembers. Along with our nation's gratitude, every person who puts on the uniform, serves our country, and protects its values should be eligible for naturalization or to apply for legal permanent resident status."

"I want to thank Chairman Takano for his leadership and getting this bill to the floor for a vote. This is an issue that I have been fighting for since I first came to Congress, and I could not be more proud to vote for this legislation. Deporting veterans is a stain upon our nation's history. With the passage of this bill, we are one step closer to rectifying this issue and keeping our promise to care for the brave men and women who've put their lives on the line to defend our country," said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez.

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.