They served the country but were deported: they demand that Biden return veterans.

Immigrants who were deported after serving in the United States armed forces believe that the time has come for President Joe Biden to use his executive powers and offer plans to “bring them back” to the country.

The Deported Veterans Support House , supported by lawmakers and civil rights advocates, launched a campaign Thursday to urge the Biden administration to "bring home" all veterans who were deported.

"We think we have an ally in the White House to stop the deportation of veterans, and bring home those who have already been deported ," Hector Barajas, director and founder of La Casa de Apoyo A Veterans , said at a press conference. Deported with headquarters in Tijuana, Mexico.

The request was made a week after the Democrat served the first 100 days of his term, which according to Barajas marks a prudent space to demand that Biden fulfill his promise made in the campaign.

As early as February, the White House had said that it would review the deportations of veterans and their families, a measure in accordance with the deportation priorities established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

As part of the campaign, the veterans, who are largely based in Mexico, published a letter to Congress and the Democratic government to begin the process of bringing back former soldiers.

Jennie Pasquarella , director of Immigrant Rights for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU), considers veterans exiled outside the United States to number "thousands."

In this sense, the Democratic Congressman for California Mark Takano pointed out that both the Biden administration and Congress must establish how many veterans have been deported.

The legislator acknowledged that neither the Department of Defense nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Congress knows for sure how many former soldiers were subject to deportation in the past two decades.

As a country, "we have to redress this injustice," Takano said.

YOUR CLAIMS WERE NOT HEARD

In addition to the lack of knowledge of how many deportations of veterans have been carried out, it is added that the reviews of the deportation cases of immigrants who served in the ranks of the US armed forces were not heard.

Veterans argue that in a review by the Government Accountability Office, researchers found that in 70% of cases the required reviews were not performed.

Pasquarella explained that, as part of the process to "repair the damage," the White House must create pathways to reopen the deportation proceedings for veterans and find legal avenues for them to return to the United States.

He also insisted that to correct the problem in the future, consideration should be given to speeding up the path to citizenship for immigrants who are in the armed forces.

For his part, the congressman insisted on the need to address the bills that are currently underway in Congress.

Two bills have already been filed to stop the deportation of veterans: the Veterans Protection and Visa Act, and the Immigrant Veterans Eligibility Tracking System (I-VETS) Act.

The approval of any of these projects would allow veterans who have been deported to return to this country, allowing them to live here with their families and prevent more veterans from being deported, the campaign highlights.

Barajas, who became the first veteran to return to the United States after being deported to Mexico, and later become a US citizen, invited US voters to join the cause.

Organizations such as the ACLU, Mijente Common Defense, the AFL-CIO Veterans Council, Daily Kos and Progress America are part of the support network for these deportees to their home.

Barajas noted that one of the many reasons immigrants volunteer for military service is their desire to give back to the country that has taken them in and made their home.

“We must demand that Congress pass these protections. This is the most atrocious way to treat our veterans and shows that Trump's deportation machine is out of control, ” says the letter that will be sent to Congress.