In brief
Julio Torres, a Marine veteran, shares his experience navigating life post-service while facing the threat of deportation due to undocumented immigration policies. Despite his contributions to the U.S., he finds himself in fear of ICE raids and highlights the plight of over 100,000 veterans in similar circumstances. As discussions around reforming immigration laws intensify, Torres’s story underscores the growing need for recognition and support of noncitizen veterans.
WASHINGTON (AP) — After serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq, Julio Torres displays his pride through tattoos of the American flag and the Marine Corps insignia. Now 44, he stands against the backdrop of a community in East Texas that has begun to feel more like a prison as immigration raids increase under President Trump.
Torres, who legally migrated to the United States from Mexico at age five, is a proud American. However, after battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and issues with substance abuse, he has turned his life around, becoming a pastor determined to help those dealing with similar struggles. Yet as Trump intensifies his mass deportation efforts, Torres lives in fear. Despite holding a green card, his past criminal charges have left him vulnerable.
I want to serve my community, but the threat of deportation hovers over my family and me, Torres expressed. Every day I worry about what will happen if I am picked up by ICE. I fought valiantly for this nation, and now it feels like it's against me.
Legislation is slowly taking form in Congress to address the plight of veterans like Torres. A proposed bipartisan bill aims to protect military veterans from deportation and ease citizenship requirements. It’s crucial we remember the contributions of all service members, regardless of their citizenship status, said Rep. Mark Takano, a supporter of the bill.
However, Torres recalls his own terrifying experience of detention last year, when he was stopped at the airport and briefly held by immigration authorities. I was heartbroken that my service felt so disregarded by a country I defended, he reflected.
The fear of deportation has exacerbated Torres’s PTSD, leading to nightly terrors and an overwhelming sadness. While he has faced immense challenges, he hopes that voicing his story can make a difference for others living in similar fear.
As discussions surrounding veterans’ rights and immigration laws heat up, Torres remains hopeful about fostering understanding and compassion for immigrant veterans, asserting, I love this nation and will continue to serve it in any way I can.
