WERE MISHANDLED BY I.C.E. MANY OF THEM WERE DEPORTED.
ALEXIS IS HERE WITH THE DETAILS.
>> A NEW FEDERAL REPORT LOOKED
AT ISSUES AROUND THE DEPORTATION
EVENT.
EVENT. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL NOT
SEND HER MILITARY VETERAN
BROTHER BACK TO MEXICO.
>> HUNDREDS OF NONCITIZENS
VETERANS NOW FINDING THEMSELVES
DEPORTED.
DEPORTED. >> WITH THE ATTENTION AROUND
IMMIGRATION, I’VE DECIDED TO GO
THROUGH IT.
THROUGH IT. NONCITIZENS CAN SERVE IN THE
U.S. MILITARY.
U.S. MILITARY. IN FACT, IT’S LONG BEEN A
BACKTRACK TOWARD CITIZENSHIP FOR
A NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS.
BETWEEN 2013 AND 2018, MORE THAN
44,000 NONCITIZENS ENLISTED IN
THE MILITARY, ACCORDING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DATA.
THAT’S BECOMING LESS AND LESS
THE CASE.
THE CASE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT,
APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION
DECLINED SHARPLY WHEN PRESIDENT
TRUMP TOOK OFFICE.
BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF NEW
POLICIES THAT MADE IT HARDER FOR
NONCITIZENS TO JOIN THE
MILITARY.
MILITARY. NOW I.C.E. ALREADY HAS POLICIES
IN PLACE TO PROTECT VETERANS WHO
MAY BE SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION.
THEY’VE HAVEN’T BEEN FULLY
FOLLOWING THEM.
FOLLOWING THEM. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT,
IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT DOES NOT KNOW
EXACTLY HOW MANY VETERANS HAVE
BEEN PLACED IN REMOVAL
PROCEEDINGS OR REMOVED.
SO, FIRST, WHAT ARE THESE
POLICIES?
POLICIES? I.C.E. REQUIRES WHEN AGENTS AND
OFFICERS ENCOUNTER A VETERAN
WHOM THEY BELIEVE KNEW IS
DEPORTABLE, THEY MUST CONDUCT
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS.
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS. TAKE THE PERSON’S SERVICE
HISTORY INTO ACCOUNT.
IT INCLUDES TIME IN SERVICE,
MILITARY AWARDS, AND DEPLOYMENT.
HERE IS THE THING, ACCORDING TO
THE G.A.O. REPORT, ICE, DOES NOT
CONSISTENTLY ADHERE TO THE
POLICIES AND DOES NOT
CONSISTENTLY IDENTIFY THE
VETERANS.
VETERANS. THEY PLACE AT LEAST 250,000
VETERANS IN DEPORTATION
PROCEDURES OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS.
YEARS. BUT THAT NUMBER COULD ACTUALLY
BE MUCH HIGHER.
BECAUSE THEY DON’T ACTUALLY HAVE
A A PROPER SYSTEM FOR TRACKING
THAT.
THAT. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, QUOTE,
NONE OF THE I.C.E. COMPONENTS --
TAKE COMPLETE -- IT REQUIRES
THEM TO GET HIGHER UP APPROVAL
TO PROCEED WITH DEPORTATION.
YET THE REPORT FOUND NEARLY 90
VETERANS WHO WERE DEPORTED FROM
2013 TO 2018 THEY FAILED TO GET
THE REQUIRED MANAGEMENT APPROVAL
IN 21% OF THEIR CASES.
AND THEY ALSO FAILED TO ELEVATE
TO HEADQUARTERS FOR 70% OF THOSE
THAT REQUIRED IT.
OFFICIALS SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE
OF THE POLICIES UNTIL THE GAO
REVIEW.
REVIEW. THE REPORT WAS COMMISSIONED BY
FOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN
2017.
2017. AMONG THEM A CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT
WHO CHAIRED THE HOUSE VETERAN’S
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WROTE A LETTER
TO I.C.E. DEMANDING CHANGES.
HE SAID WE CANNOT ALLOW
NONVETERAN CITIZENS TO FALL
THROUGH.
THROUGH. DEPORTATIONS.
DEPORTATIONS. AND TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT
OFFICERS ARE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED
AND DOCUMENTED BY AN IMMIGRANT
THEY ENCOUNTER.
THEY ENCOUNTER. SO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY AGREED WITH THE