Monday, May 27, 2013

For some Latinos, serving the military wasn't enough

“damn ...couldn’t help but to break down and cry...
This time its tears of Joy...
Even though I don’t have my ‘lil “chikiboo...”
She’s just the most precious ‘lil girl and she loves me...regardless of who I am or where I am...
It feels good...
Spc B Deported..Man there ain’t no Love better than a child’s love...” - Hector Barajas, US Army 82nd Airborne Spc. - deported
From Banashed Veterans

Hector Barajas, US Army 82nd Airborne Spc.
Hector Barajas, served the US Army 82nd Airborne Spc.  He was a legal permanent resident at the
time and proudly served from November 1995 to November 2001.  During his service, he received two honorable discharges and two AAM´s (Army Achievement Medal),  a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Army Service Medal and Humanitarian Medal.  He proudly served with the 407th Golden Griffins C Co, ·307th FSB Renegades C Co., WBAMC.

Shortly after his discharge from the military he got in trouble with the law, served time, but during his incarceration he received multiple diplomas and most of all, a rehabilitation.

Upon his release Hector had an immigration hold, a legal process to deport him. He could not believe the country he had proudly served would turn his back on him.

In a very short time, Hector was chained and flown to Arizona by the US Marshals, without any legal help and no one to turn to. During his quick hearing, Hector represented himself to no avail.  He was deported in 2003 to a land he didn't know, speaking a language he felt was foreign.

For six months Hector appealed his case, arguing he was a US National and that he could not be deported because of his military oath and permanent allegiance to the United States. The judge thanked Hector for his service, explained that if the country was in conflict status or if Hector was a combat veteran, things would be different, but that was not the case and ordered him to be deported.

Today, Hector writes about his life in a foreign land on his facebook page and shares his torment and tears of missing his daughter and his country.

Regardless of status, many US military veterans, including combat veterans, are facing what Hector Barajas has been fighting over the last decade, the unjust deportation of someone who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

To many veterans, the US government denies their claims of being a National or an American, even though they have proudly worn a uniform of the United States military.

Today, Hector knows that while he served in the military, there was never a distinction of where he was born and where his heart was at. He still believes in this country and proudly states he is a US Veteran. No matter where he goes he shares "I will always be a United States Veteran."

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