| |
Democrats Probe Military Deportations 08/10 06:27
(AP) -- Congressional Democrats said they are investigating the Trump
administration's efforts to deport military service members and their families
after The Associated Press found more than 50 active-duty troops' spouses and
parents have been detained by immigration authorities.
In a letter sent Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security, the
Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Democrats said
they will investigate whether the Pentagon and DHS are coordinating to deport
military service members and their families.
"These efforts imperil military readiness, weaken service members' morale,
and betray America's promises to the people who put their lives on the line for
our nation," according to the letter, which was signed by more than 60
lawmakers and provided to the AP.
The Pentagon declined to comment, stating it would "reply directly to the
authors of the letter."
DHS told the AP that it values service members' contributions and "U.S.
military service alone does not automatically grant lawful immigration status,
or exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws."
The VA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In their letter, the Democrats provided an extensive list of questions to
the agencies. They said the apparent collaboration between DHS and the military
to deport troops' families "raises both ethical and legal concerns."
"Donald Trump is breaking our country's promises to service members by
tearing apart dozens of military families who were promised immigration
protections," Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. "That's just plain
cruel, and it's hurting our military readiness and morale."
Warren's office is leading the probe alongside Connecticut Sen. Richard
Blumenthal, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and several House Democrats.
The AP investigation found President Donald Trump's administration has
rolled back protections for military families and departed from longstanding
bipartisan consensus to carry out its mass deportation agenda. Service members
have been forced to take leave of their duties, including delaying deployment,
to care for their children after their spouses were detained.
The lawmakers pressed the administration on why military recruiters are
still promoting immigration protections.
Citing the AP's reporting, the lawmakers urged the Trump administration to
restore policies that had previously shielded military service members'
families from immigration enforcement while allowing them to adjust their legal
status.
"This report is appalling and shows the unbelievable cruelty at the center
of the Trump immigration agenda," said Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "We will be demanding answers and
accountability."
The Republican chairs of the armed services and veterans' affairs
committees, Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker and Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, did not
respond to requests for comment.
Last week, Trump established the Military Spouse Commission, chaired by
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, to develop policies
and recommendations for improving life for troops' spouses.
"Military spouses are intrinsically linked to the good order, readiness, and
retention of our military," Trump stated in a letter published in the Federal
Register on Aug. 6. "Their support and contributions to our Armed Forces are
crucial to mission success."
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
The Defense Department said in a December letter to Democratic lawmakers,
obtained by the AP, that it had not implemented any recent policy changes for
noncitizen family members in the military and has not conducted analysis on how
deportations impact troop readiness and morale.
Danitza James, president of Repatriate Our Patriots, an organization
providing support to military families and veterans facing deportation, said
troops are being betrayed.
"Our military service members are the ones that sign on the dotted line to
go and defend our country and maybe not come back," James said. "They trust our
government to take care of their families, and they're not doing that."
|
|
