Trump Moves To Deport Military Spouses

Trump Moves To Deport Military Spouses February 23, 2017

New Citizens Taking The Oath Of Citizenship. (Courtesy: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services )
New Citizens Taking The Oath Of Citizenship. (Courtesy: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services )

In 2013 President Obama expanded the Bush-era “Parole in Place” program which keeps the spouses of U. S. military personnel from being deported for not being legal immigrants. While fighting for our country the last thing someone needs is to be worrying about a spouse being deported. Immigrants have long served in our military as a means to show their love of America and as a path to citizenship.

Donald Trump and Republicans have gleefully revoked that program. Contrary to their continued lies about caring for, even loving, members of the American military Republicans view then simply as pawns for their wars and props for their parades and photo-ops. Republicans wrap themselves in the flag and speak in pious tones about honor and respect. As we have learned with their abandoning of their “moral principles” during the last election their views on “honor and respect” are just as easily discarded for political ideology.

David Kubat, a National Guard member from Minnesota, laments this change in a letter to the editor published by the NY Times:

“I am a member of the National Guard and a lawyer practicing immigration law in Minnesota. In 2013, President Obama, at the express request of the Defense Department, created a program for military families to prevent the deportation of military spouses, parents and children. This program alleviated a major source of anxiety and fear for service members and their families.

I have personally experienced the hardship of deployments to combat zones, and know the incredible importance of family stability during that trying time. This week, this administration rescinded the Parole in Place program, harming thousands of military families across the country. This is another example of the careless excess of the administration’s immigration policy.

It is unconscionable to reverse a policy that strengthens our military and our veterans. That the program was not even named in the memo demonstrates either a lack of awareness, or worse, a casual disregard of the effect that this will have on those most vulnerable members of our military.”

With all the stressors that come with serving in our nation’s military, the fear of having a spouse deported is the last thing the nation should put upon the shoulders of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

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