Deported Veterans: Confronting an American Injustice
Join us for a profound exploration into the lives of those who served honorably and were cast aside. This is a call to learn, embrace empowerment, and take collective action for our veterans in exile.
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The Deported Veteran Crisis
Many United States veterans — people who have fought, sacrificed, and in many cases been permanently injured on our behalf — are vulnerable to deportation, threatened with the possibility of being banished to another country. The idea seems inconceivable, incompatible with basic notions of justice, yet it is true. As of February 2024, more than 40,000 non-citizens were serving in active or reserve military roles, and an estimated additional 115,000 non-citizens in the United States are veterans. Military service, even in combat, does not guarantee citizenship, and the naturalization process is often slow, complex, and inaccessible. When a non-citizen veteran makes a mistake, they face double punishment: the criminal legal system and the threat of exile.
Many service members carry deep physical and psychological wounds. The VA reports that 29% of Iraq War veterans developed PTSD, and more than 20% of veterans with PTSD also struggle with substance use disorders. Veterans with PTSD are significantly more likely to become involved in the criminal system. These are individuals who need support, not additional harm.
Adding insult to injury: non-citizen veterans who are deported are separated from their families and their home, face numerous dangers in foreign countries, and often lose access to the medical treatment they are supposed to be guaranteed. We do not even know how many veterans our country has deported. Some estimates go as high as 10,000, but we just do not know. Chronically undocumented and under-reported, deported veterans suffer in the shadows, forgotten by a nation they fought to defend. This should not be tolerated, and we do not have to accept it. Please attend our panel and learn how we can raise awareness and right this wrong.
More than 40,000 Non-Citizens in Active or Reserve Military Roles
All vulnerable to deportation because of lack of citizenship
Thousands Of Veterans Deported
Estimates go as high as 10,000 veterans exiled but we do not know the exact number.
29% Of Iraq War Veterans Developed PTSD in Their Lifetime
Veterans suffering from PTSD changes drastically depending on the era and wars fought. Percentage only incudes living veterans at time of study, not those that died and suffered from PTSD.
More than 20% Of Veterans with PTSD Have a Substance Disorder
Resulting in an increased likelihood of criminal activity. Veterans with PTSD are 61% more likely to end up in the criminal legal system than veterans without PTSD”
Panel Details
Join us for an evening centered on a panel of veterans, advocates, and legal experts who will illuminate the lived reality of deported U.S. service members—an injustice many have never heard about, but none can forget once they do. Attendees will hear firsthand accounts, learn what meaningful change requires, and take part in small‑group conversations designed to spark thoughtful questions and collective action. This is a chance to listen deeply, engage courageously, and stand in solidarity with those who have served yet been left behind.
Date: Monday, April 27th
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110
The Panelists
Ali Brown
Speaker
Tammy Lin
Ali Brown is the Supervising Attorney for the Veterans Legal Clinic, providing free legal services to veterans, service members, and families. She previously served as a trial attorney in San Diego, and holds a PhD in Philosophy and a JD from the University of San Diego, where she held key editorial and advocacy roles.
Speaker
Tammy Lin is an immigration attorney and professor of practice at USD’s Immigration Clinic. She runs a solo practice, advises San Diego County on immigration issues, and is a former two-time AILA San Diego Chair and frequent speaker on asylum and refugee matters, including various media outlets such as 60 Minutes. She earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Livy Lazaro
Speaker
Retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Livier “Livy” Lazaro serves on the National Subcommittee on Deported Veterans and commands VFW Post 7420, the first woman in its 67-year history to do so. A former combat medic, she mentors repatriated veterans, advocates for legislation, and helped secure the return of her friend, deported veteran Laura Meza.
Bob Blessing
Speaker
Chaplain Colonel Robert Blessing served 25 years in the US Army deploying 4 times and serving two tours in Iraq. He received two bronze stars and received the combat action badge for exposure to enemy combatants. He is a retired Episcopal Priest in the diocese of San Diego and presently ministers to Deported veterans in Tijuana
Richard Avila
Speaker
Richard Avila, a U.S. Army veteran and lifelong Los Angeles resident, overcame decades of addiction rooted in wartime trauma and later faced repeated deportations despite his service. Now over 20 years drug‑free, he advocates for deported veterans in Mexico, committed to ensuring no veteran is abandoned or forgotten.
The Facilitators
Robert Vivar
Facilitator
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Nick Straub
Robert Vivar is Executive Director of the Unified U.S. Deported Veterans Resource Center and Interim Immigration and Border Director for the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. He advances policy, legal advocacy, and cross‑border humanitarian work, supporting repatriation efforts and leading immersive border‑policy programs for academic, faith, and civic partners.
Facilitator
Richard Avila, a U.S. Army veteran and lifelong Los Angeles resident, overcame decades of addiction rooted in wartime trauma and later faced repeated deportations despite his service. Now over 20 years drug‑free, he advocates for deported veterans in Mexico, committed to ensuring no veteran is abandoned or forgotten.
Nick Straub is an MDiv student at the Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego. With a bachelor's in philosophy from UC San Diego and experience at the San Diego Rescue Mission as a Community Life Ambassador, he is committed to fostering dignity, community, and compassionate service in faith‑based contexts.
Speaker
Scenes from the Panel
Explore key moments and moving insights shared during our live panel discussion on the crisis of deported U.S. veterans.
Opening by Dean of Peace School Dr. Darren Kew
Intro to Panel: Nick Straub
Livy's Biography and Experience
Livy's Overview of the Crisis
Bob Blessing on Our Promise to Veterans
Unanswered Questions & Responses
The conversation doesn't end when the panel concludes. Below are the insights and answers to the audience questions we didn't have time to address at the event.
Question 1: What legal steps do you think would force an administration to separate the issue from immigration?
RESPONSE – ROBERT VIVAR
That would require legislation or argument, which would more than likely go all the way to the Supreme Court. To clarify u.s.c 1101 (a) (22) Which deals with what constitudes a person to be considered a national but not a citizen of the USA. We believe than when a person takes the oath of enlistment(similar to oath of citizenship) That person that day going forward should be considered a National if not a citizen of the US. A lawsuit filed to clarify such is one thought.
RESPONSE – RICHARD AVILA
“Administration after administration has kicked the can on immigration for decades, and they will keep doing it until, you're right, Legal Steps are taken. This Is exactly why a legal challenge has to be made in the courts, as to the US Nationality of Veterans, Active Military, and others. This is a good constitutional issue that I've been able to file, in pro se, through the Courts Of Appeal. That being said, I apparently need some help from any good legal minds out there. If there is anyone interested in setting a precedent on this issue, please email me: 30mofos@gmail.com”
RESPONSE – TAMMY LIN
I'm unsure if there are any legal steps. I think it will take intense advocacy and a groundswell of support from leadership in Congress to get it passed and hopefully someone in the Presidency who will agree to sign it. I'm unsure if this is feasible under the chaos of the current administration.
Question 2: Has anyone reached out to family resource centers to educate active duty personal about their rights?
RESPONSE – ROBERT VIVAR
It has been done, but at a limited effort, need more to be done in this area.
Question 3: What are recruiters doing differently today? If laws change, how is that affected?
RESPONSE – ROBERT VIVAR
RESPONSE – TAMMY LIN
Recruiters only care about making their recruitment quota, they will lie with promiss of citizenship automatically when enlisting.
Out of my wheelhouse. I don't know much about the recruitment process and how it works like how they get compensated and what training they get prior to their recruitment efforts. It may take someone higher up to make sure that accurate information is given out. If laws change, I'm sure there are liaisons to help educate them. Unfortunately, I'm unsure how much of the gutting of the federal work force has impacted folks who would be on top of this. I know that offices like various Ombudsmen offices were closed at the start of this administration.
Question 4: How do we maintain hope amidst this big institutional systemic issue?
RESPONSE – ROBERT VIVAR
RESPONSE – RICHARD AVILA
Lots of prayers and understanding that we cannot give up on our veterans.
“With all of the scrutiny that has been brought to this issue, quite a few Deported Veterans have already been repatriated. We ARE chipping away at the wall.”
RESPONSE – TAMMY LIN
I think starting from community and branching out to similar folks throughout the country. I felt that way when I was attending a conference for clinical professors through the country. We had small groups of immigration clinic professors and I found that connecting with others throughout the country and hearing their similar concerns really increased my hope that we, as a bloc of citizens, can hold the line and eventually improve things once we move past this current chaos. I think it will take a groundswell of folks with a plan in place with multiple facets to get things to change. But it can happen.
Question 5: Is there a fear among service members to seek resources in the first place?
RESPONSE – ROBERT VIVAR
RESPONSE – RICHARD AVILA
Yes they are lead to believe they are invincible and should not request help.
“Considering what the atmosphere around immigration is right now, I'm sure there's some concern. But we have to be brave soldiers, and a closed mouth does not get fed. We have to raise our voices, in solidarity, against this Grave Injustice,”
Question 6: Is this mostly focused on PTSD-Related deportations or is it beyond just PTSD?
RESPONSE – ROBERT VIVAR
Beyond PTSD, their is also TBI and MST as well as substance abuse that as Richard mentioned begins will active duty, weather to fit in or like those serving in the jungles of Vietnam just to survive.
RESPONSE – RICHARD AVILA
“The issue is the deportation of US Military Veterans, with or without PTSD. Therefore the effort is focused on all deported veterans, not only PTSD related.”
RESPONSE – TAMMY LIN
I think PTSD is a big part of it but it goes beyond that. From what I hear, once military members leave the service, they often may find themselves in situations they are unable to get out (poverty, homelessness, employment, etc.) of that leads to actions that lead to potential removal.
Additional Questions
Question 7: Some people were confused by veteran denaturalization. Can you two say more about how that happens?
RESPONSE – TAMMY LIN
Sure. If they go into the military, there is typically a 5 year requirement of service. They will get their citizenship through naturalization and if they do the full 5 years of service, they leave their service keeping it. It is a fast tracking of their ability to naturalize since typically, folks need to first have lawful permanent resident status (LPR) aka greencard. Upon getting the greencard, they have to wait 5 years before they can be eligible to apply for naturalization (3 years if you're married to a US citizen for three years). If they do not complete the five years and get court martial and dishonorably discharged or leave the military service early, then the government can "denatz" their citizenship for noncompliance of the five years. ILRC has a good resource on this: https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources/faqs-how-denaturalization-works As you can see from their FAQ, it was rare that this would happen because the government never had the appetite to do this unless in the most extreme circumstances (treason, etc.). Now they are devoting resources to de-natzing people. For example, taking an AUSA who works on forfeiture cases and making them now only work on de-natz cases If they just didn't comply with the five years and there was no dishonorable discharge or court martial, etc. then they would likely just go back to their greencard status. If there was a dishonorable discharge/court martial, they run the risk that the violation could lead to them being put in removal proceedings and having their greencards taken away from them and potential removal from the U.S. If there is a finding of a dishonorable discharge, even if they are able to stay on their greencard status and keep it, they may never be able to naturalize since it impugns a general "bad moral character" that likely is unable to overcome.
Question 8: Can anyone with a federal bar legally represent a veteran who faces deportation?
RESPONSE – TAMMY LIN
Any licensed attorney (doesn't matter where they are barred in the country) can represent someone in immigration court since it is federal law. But I would hope that they get a mentor who can help guide them. I've taken over cases where a criminal trial attorney though the could do a removal case and ended up screwing it up and so I had to fill an ineffective assistance of counsel to get the case reopened and get another attempt to fix things. If it is before the federal district court, they must be admitted to the district court and if they can't be admitted, they must do a Pro Hac Vice (find someone who is admitted to vouch for them). This comes into play with the habeas cases and potentially de-natz cases.
Question 9: How do we actually fight laws that enable this issue?
RESPONSE – TAMMY LIN
Elect people who will work to improve, change, upgrade current laws. Inform electeds about this and get their buy in. It's a federal issue so the only way for things to change would be with changes in the laws through an act of congress and signed by the president. OR, by forcing the hand of the administration in power to have more discretion in their actions for these populations.
Question 10: What specific challenges remain regarding VA benefits and medical facilities in Mexico?
RESPONSE – RICHARD AVILA
“In the beginning, when veterans' support first started here in TJ, there were no benefits available to any deported veteran. As the cause picked up steam, with the help from the ACLU, those honorably discharged began to get financial benefits. Of course there are no VA Medical facilities in Mexico, so even when approved for medical benefits, there is nowhere to go. I myself am approved for partial medical benefits, but again nowhere to go. I have not given up though, and I was recently given Dr Rudy Melson's information. Rudy Melson is the one Robert Vivar mentioned, who has been helping veterans with their benefits, but I'm having a little trouble contacting him. This has all been a long hard battle, but it's not over yet, and we are chipping away at the wall, slowly but surely.”
Veterans’ Stories: Life After Deportation
These are real accounts from deported U.S. veterans.
Richard Avila’s Story
I don't have any recollection of my life in Mexico before coming to the US, since I was only 16 months old when my family immigrated and settled in Los Angeles CA. We did however return twice, to my hometown, to visit during school vacations. I was 16 months old when we immigrated and lived my entire life in the United States until being exiled. During the Vietnam War, I was introduced to heroin and returned home as a veteran in serious addiction. I was never given or offered rehabilitation. In and out of jails for drug-related crimes, I ended up in deportation proceedings. Since the 1996 BIA affirmation of the deportation order, I have been removed from the U.S. several times. I have now been drug-free for over 20 years, but I am stuck here in a place I know very little about. I focus my energy on helping the advocacy groups that are fighting for our cause.
Video Testimonies
American Soldiers in Exile: Part I
20 Years in Tijuana
American Soldiers in Exile: Part II
My Dream
Building Wisdom
So Close Yet So Far: A Deported Veteran's Struggle
Two Soldiers Left Behind
The Life of a 73 Year Old Deported Veteran
The Veteran Service Recognition Act
A bipartisan bill first introduced to congress in 2017 (and reintroduced regularly including as recently as 2025) the Veteran Service Recognition Act would go a long way in helping address the crisis. First, the bill requires the government to study and report on veteran deportations from 1990 to the present, thereby bringing the crisis fully into the light. Second, the bill makes it easier for non-citizens in the military to become citizens by directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) to implement a program that allows non-citizen service members to file for naturalization during basic training, or as early as otherwise possible. Third, the bill increases oversight and institutes the formation of the Military Family Advisory Committee: a councilor body of 9 members that would be appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security. This group would provide recommendations to Homeland Security on all cases – except those tied to serious crimes – involving deportation proceedings for service-members, veterans, and their families, offering an extra-layer of protection and discretion. Fourth, the bill creates opportunities for deported veterans not convicted of serious crimes to apply for legal resident status, bringing potentially thousands of lost heroes home. Currently, the bill is stalled in Congress and requires our support. Check out the links below to learn more about the bill and how your voice can ignite change.
More Legislation That Can Help Deported Veterans
These legislative proposals would expand protections for non-citizen service members and create vital pathways home for those already exiled. By addressing systemic gaps, these bills aim to ensure that those who wore the uniform are treated with the dignity they earned.
S.3142 – I–VETS Act
The Immigrant Veterans Eligibility Tracking System (I-VETS) Act aims to identify and track non-citizen veterans within the immigration system. This ensures that their service record is considered in any legal proceedings, preventing accidental deportations of those who served honorably.
H.R.4393 – DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
The DIGNIDAD Act is a comprehensive immigration proposal that seeks to overhaul many aspects of the current system with the broad intention of increasing border security while also attending to the dignity of immigrants in the United States who do not have lawful status by providing means for them to become citizens and providing further safeguards against deportation. This bill also addresses veteran concerns by modernizing the naturalization process in the military, but its primary focus is on immigration as a whole.
Resources
Learn More
Access key reports and legal studies that examine the systemic challenges and historical precedents leading to the removal of non-citizen service members.
Advocates & Personal Stories
Learn from the lived experiences of displaced veterans and find inspiration in the creative advocacy projects fighting for their return.
Veteran Support
Discover essential resources for legal aid and specialized support services dedicated to assisting and repatriating our nation's displaced heroes.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about the stories and struggles of our deported veterans. Your attention is the first step toward confronting this American injustice.
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