Disabled U.S. Marine Veteran of Iraq to be deported
December 12, 2019
A Marine veteran who served two tours in Iraq faces deportation to El Salvador, from which he emigrated when he was three years old. Jose Segovia Benitez was a legal permanent resident when he enlisted in the Marines and served for five years before he was honorably discharged in 2004.
While in Iraq, Benitez suffered a traumatic brain injury that, according to his family, was not appropriately treated. This, coupled with severe post-traumatic stress disorder that caused a change in his personality and behavior. Benitez committed several felonies involving drug and domestic violence offenses, and he served time in prison as a result. This criminal record put him on the radar of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and he was picked up for possible deportation upon his release from prison in 2018. He has been in ICE custody ever since.
Benitez’s case is complicated in that it involves several issues affecting veterans and immigrants. However, it also highlights the ongoing controversy of how to handle the citizenship of immigrants who serve in the United States military.
Advocate groups estimate there are anywhere from hundreds to thousands of veteran immigrants who have been deported after serving in the United States military. Some say that veterans should be given a fast track to citizenship when they serve honorably and automatic citizenship if they go to serve in a combat zone. Benitez had applied for citizenship while he was serving, but his application was closed due to administrative reasons. Even now, it has never been denied and could be potentially reopened.
In a last-ditch effort to keep Benitez in the United States, his family has asked California Governor, Gavin Newsom, to pardon him. Whether or not their application will be approved remains to be seen.