WASHINGTON—After serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq, Julio Torres proudly displays his American flag and Marine insignia tattoos as a testament to his dedication, but now, the land he fought for feels more like a prison.
At 44, Torres battles post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has faced challenges such as addiction and a criminal charge stemming from his deployment. Yet he has found solace and purpose in his role as a pastor, spreading a message of freedom to those grappling with similar issues.
However, the ongoing immigration reforms have left Torres, a legal resident since age five, feeling unsafe in his own community.
With President Donald Trump's stricter immigration policies, Torres fears the potential of deportation—despite his service to the nation and possession of a green card. His dread intensified when he was detained by immigration authorities last year under the Biden administration, leading to a harrowing experience that intensified his PTSD symptoms. “Do I want to leave this nation? No. I want to serve it,” said Torres, expressing his heartache over the thought of being separated from his children.
Estimates indicate over 100,000 U.S. veterans lack citizenship, a reality that raises alarms amid intensified immigration enforcement. Many veterans share Torres’s fear of being deported despite their sacrifices for the nation.
This issue has garnered bipartisan attention in Congress, with proposals arising to protect noncitizen veterans from immigration raids. Representative Mark Takano's recent bill aims to ensure that military veterans among immigrants are identified and given opportunities to adjust their immigration status, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of their service.
As policy debates continue, Torres's narrative serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by noncitizen veterans and underscores the need for a compassionate approach to immigration that recognizes their sacrifices.
