This immigrant served in the US military. Now he faces deportation
Benito Miranda Hernandez, a US Navy veteran who immigrated from Mexico as a baby, is detained and faces deportation despite promises of citizenship after military service. Advocates warn of rising deportations of veterans under the Trump administration.
On Thursday morning, a small group of advocates gathered outside the US federal courthouse in San Diego, California, to protest the detention of immigrant veteran Benito Miranda Hernandez. Hernandez, who was brought from Mexico to the US as an infant, completed three tours of duty during the Iraq war with the hope of obtaining citizenship through military service. Now he is among immigrant veterans fighting deportation under President Donald Trump's administration.
Hernandez was detained on June 14, immediately after completing a years-long prison sentence for a drug conviction, by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while waiting for his mother to pick him up. Despite having received his green card for permanent residency earlier this year, he now faces removal. His mother, Maria Miranda, said he was "doing things right" and had many hopes and dreams.
Advocates, including James Smith of Black Deported Veterans of America, highlight a rise in deportations of veterans during Trump's second term. The New York Times reported in March that at least 34 veterans have been placed in deportation proceedings in the past year. Many, like Hernandez, struggle with mental health issues after service and lack proper reintegration support.
Danitza James, president of Repatriate our Patriots and a former service member herself, stated that the government "doesn't place any value" on immigrant veterans and sees them as "disposable." Several bills to protect immigrant veterans are under consideration in Congress, but Hernandez remains in detention. His mother tries to keep his spirits up during visits, though the two-hour drive from Anaheim to San Diego is difficult for her health.
