Brothers Who Served in Vietnam Fight Deportation

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-09-24 16:14:00 UTC
Topics:

At 62, Valente Valenzuela faces deportation back to a country he left as a child. Wounded in Vietnam, issued a Bronze Star for bravery, and a sufferer of post traumatic stress disorder, Valente cannot believe that the country he served with honor now wants to turn its back on him. His brother, Manuel, who also fought in the Vietnam war, has also been ordered out of the country.

The way our nation treats immigrants who have fought under the American flag shows a deep disrespect for the sacrifice our servicemembers make. The Valenzuelas are not the first immigrant veterans to find that this country attaches little value to the shedding of their blood. "I have been dealing with post traumatic stress disorder for 42 years. I have Agent Orange on my hands," Valente told the Texas Insider. "My skin is discolored from Agent Orange from burying the canisters. I have bullet burns on my belly and have undergone three surgeries."

The Department of Homeland Security: yawn.

As children, the Valenzuela brothers, whose mother was an American-born citizen, moved to the United States as legal permanent residents. After serving in the Vietnam war, both got into trouble with the law, which they believe was a result of their war-related PTSD. Though these crimes were committed years ago and have already been dealt with by the criminal justice system, this triggered removal proceedings against the brothers.

When it comes to immigrant veterans committing crimes, nobody argues that they shouldn't face the penalties of the criminal justice system, just like any American citizen would. But to add deportation to this punishment? That is both disproportionate to the crime and ignores the fact that once an immigrant has fought for the red, white, and blue, he or she has pledged allegiance to the United States and belongs here no matter what they do, even if the servicemember is not considered a citizen. They served America: now American has a responsibility to them.

Furthermore, the Valenzuelas' offenses, like many crimes committed by war veterans, are most likely related to PTSD received in the line of duty. Both brothers have taken the right step in now attending counseling to deal with their PTSD — but, conveniently, should they be deported, the U.S. government is absolved of all responsibility to provide counseling or any other veterans service to them.

Supporters have set up a Facebook page against the deportation of Vietnam vets. To tell the Department of Homeland Security to stop the deportation of Valente and Manuela Valenzuela in recognition of their service to this country, please sign the petition here. You can also ask Congress to recognize all veterans as non-citizen nationals who can never be deported from the land they fought for.

Photo credit: US Army Africa

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Stephen Colbert Testifying in Congress on Behalf of Migrant Workers
NEXT STORY:
Community Members Fight Detention of High School Graduate with a Mental Disability

COMMENTS (9)

    Comment Policy

    · All fields are required to comment.

    [X]

    Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the campaign on Change.org. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments which, as determined solely in our discretion: (1) are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; (2) include content solely intended to personally attack the campaign creator, (3) are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them; and/or (4) violate our terms of service and/or privacy policy. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion. Please also be advised that: (A) we do not actively curate and/or monitor in any manner whatsoever the comments made on the Change.org platform, and (B) the creator of each campaign on Change.org may remove any comment at her/his/its discretion.