SAN DIEGO — After combating in Afghanistan, former U.S. Army soldier Mauricio Hernandez Mata returned house with post-traumatic stress, which he says ultimately led to getting in bother with the regulation and being deported to Mexico — a rustic he had not lived in since he was a boy.
On Wednesday, he and one other deported veteran had been sworn in as U.S. residents at a particular naturalization ceremony in San Diego.
The 2 veterans had been amongst 65 who’ve been allowed again into america over the previous yr in the past as a part of a rising effort by the Biden administration referred to as the Immigrant Navy Members and Veterans Initiative to make amends with immigrants who served within the U.S. army solely to wind up deported.
A whole bunch of U.S. army veterans, together with some who had been charged with crimes similar to drunk driving or theft, have been deported through the years in what immigration advocates and others have referred to as an unfair punishment to those that took up arms within the identify of america. Many are nonetheless struggling to seek out authorized assist to return, in line with the American Civil Liberties Union.
“After my deportation, yeah, I by no means thought this present day would come,” stated Hernandez, 41, wearing a black go well with and tie after being offered his U.S. citizenship certificates. “It is positively been an extended street. I am glad that we got a second probability as anyone that’s both American-born or fought for America ought to have.”
Leonel Contreras, 63, who joined the U.S. Army at age of 17 and served for a yr in 1976, additionally was sworn in on the ceremony.
“I really feel very blessed,” stated Contreras, who was allowed again into america about 4 months in the past. “I really feel very comfortable to be again on American soil.”
Each males spent the previous decade residing within the border metropolis of Tijuana.
Contreras was whisked away by U.S. immigration authorities who detained him on the barbershop the place he labored in Nationwide Metropolis, south of San Diego. His life without end modified.
He continued to work in Tijuana as a barber and located work due to his English at name facilities serving to reply questions from prospects of U.S. firms. But it surely was not straightforward.
Throughout that point his two sons grew up, and he now could be a grandfather. Together with his U.S. citizenship in hand, he stated he’s not wanting again.
“I simply need to go to all of the locations I’ve dreamed of seeing, just like the Grand Canyon and presumably Mount Rushmore,” he stated.
Hernandez stated his deportation got here after unspecified “irreverent actions and errors I made on account of my PTSD.” He declined to provide extra particulars. However he stated after he was allowed again into the nation a yr in the past, he was decided to get his U.S. citizenship to have the ability to go to the grocery retailer and never really feel “terrified” of being picked up and despatched again to Mexico.
His 7-year-old daughter hugged him after he was sworn in amid cheers from a crowd that included greater than a dozen veterans from numerous branches. Then he turned and kissed his spouse.
“I’ve all the time been an American, the distinction is now I am an American citizen and I’ve all of the rights that any American born citizen has,” Hernandez stated. “And it was vital to me to have these rights simply to show the purpose, the purpose being that anyone that is keen to put down their life, their sanity, and provides every thing that they maintain pricey for American freedom must be ultimately at one level of their lives thought of a U.S. citizen.”
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