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Another Excellent Video From Regina Spektor's Latest Album: "Black and White"

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Anymouse 🌹🏡😷2/03/2017 3:50:30 am PST

82nd Airborne vet who was deported as an undocumented immigrant to Mexico (and set up a help support group service there for other deported veterans) has hope he will be granted citizenship.

He was brought to the USA at age 8. He joined the Army with the understanding he would become a citizen. After his honourable he did not follow up the paperwork, and when convicted of a Felony (aggravated discharge of a firearm) was deported to Mexico and banned from ever returning.

That crime has since been reclassified as a misdemeanour.

A report released this month by the American Civil Liberties Union brought the issue back into the headlines, saying that the federal government failed to ensure that immigrant servicemembers became citizens and later deported “an untold number” without considering their service.

Barajas-Varela is featured on the cover of the report, called “Discharged, Then Discarded,” and is credited by the ACLU with giving deported veterans “a collective voice whose cries are finally being heard.”

He has been encouraged by recent events.

With help from the ACLU and legal experts, deported Marine veteran Daniel Torres became a U.S. citizen in April.

Mr. Barajas-Varela is a combat veteran of the Iraq War.

He has helped twelve deported veterans and one civilian DOD worker obtain reëntry into the USA.

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