A Veteran's Fight for Citizenship Amid Deportation Fears

Mon Oct 20 2025 02:37:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Julio Torres, a U.S. Marine veteran, grapples with the emotional toll of possible deportation while advocating for veterans' rights in East Texas. His journey highlights the struggles and contributions of noncitizen veterans in America.

Julio Torres, a U.S. Marine veteran from Mexico, has become a pastor after facing mental health and addiction issues following his service in Iraq. Despite being a legal resident with a green card, he fears deportation under the Trump administration's immigration policies. Torres represents the plight of over 100,000 military veterans in the U.S. who are at risk of deportation despite their service. Recent legislative efforts aim to protect these veterans and highlight their contributions to national security.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq, Julio Torres proudly displays the American flag and Marine Corps insignia tattooed on his arms, representing his commitment to a country he considers home.

However, following his battle with post-traumatic stress syndrome and drug addiction, the 44-year-old has found new purpose as a pastor, preaching a message of freedom to those facing similar struggles. Yet, as legal immigration policies tighten, his community in East Texas feels less like a home and more akin to a prison.

With President Donald Trump intensifying his mass deportation agenda, Torres, born in Mexico and legally migrated to the U.S. at five, now fears stepping out too far from home. Detained by immigration authorities last year under the Biden administration, he worries Trump's ramp-up of raids by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement could bring further complications.

“Do I want to leave this nation? No. I want to serve it. I want to continue to serve my community,” Torres said. “It breaks my heart that I fought for this nation to raise my children in this nation, and now I have to pull my children out of this nation if I get deported. Then what did I fight for?”

Torres is not alone. An estimated 100,000 military veterans in the U.S. lack citizenship. In light of an increasingly hostile environment for noncitizen veterans, Democrats in Congress are raising alarm over the deportation of vets. A bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Mark Takano seeks to ensure that veterans are identified by the Department of Homeland Security, granting them a pathway to lawful immigration status.

This law would allow service members to apply for citizenship during training and facilitate the naturalization process for veterans and their families. “It’s very important for Americans to understand the contributions of noncitizens to our national security,” Takano emphasized.

Torres recalls being taken to an immigration detention center after a trip to visit family in Mexico. Despite his green card, Torres faced deportation due to previous criminal charges related to drug possession. “I was angry that I served a nation that now did not want me. I was angry that I served a nation that broke me, and after they broke me, they wanted to just throw me away,” he expressed.

His fear of deportation exacerbates his PTSD, with nightly terrors causing distress. Fellow veterans have also shared similar experiences, highlighting the very real threats they face upon returning to their home countries. Activists argue for a re-examination of policies affecting deported veterans, noting that their contributions to U.S. military forces should not be overlooked.

As the political landscape remains fraught with division, Torres holds out hope that bipartisan support can bring attention to the issues facing deported veterans and ensure their sacrifices are honored.

“I love my nation. And yes, even though this nation at this moment does not consider me part of this nation, I consider this to be my nation. I consider this my homeland,” Torres declared.