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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 25 september 2019

Deported Army veteran returns to U.S. in bid to become citizen

By SOPHIA TAREEN Perez should never been
Associated Press deported in the first place.
CHICAGO (AP) — An Army Perez was born in Mexico,
veteran who was deported but his family immigrated
to Mexico in 2018 arrived when he was a young
back in Chicago Tuesday child. His parents are natu-
for a final chance at be- ralized U.S. citizens and his
coming a U.S. citizen and two children were born in
living in the city he has the U.S.
called home since boy- He joined the Army in 2002
hood. and served in Afghanistan
Federal immigration au- where he suffered a brain
thorities granted Miguel injury and was diagnosed
Perez Jr. a two-week pa- with post-traumatic stress
role into the U.S. for an disorder.
immigration hearing, ac- It was the disorder, which
cording to his attorney. caused crippling anxiety,
The 41-year-old Perez has that led him to the drug
a green card as a perma- charge, according to Ber-
nent U.S. resident, but after gin. Perez wasn’t able to
serving time for a 2008 non- immediately get medical
violent drug conviction was care through a federal Vet-
deported last year. Then erans Administration hospi-
last month, Illinois Gov. J.B. tal, so he turned to drugs. Miguel Perez Jr. listens to a supporter speaking at a news conference in Chicago on Tuesday,
Pritzker issued a pardon , In 2008, he was accused of Sept. 24, 2019.
erasing the conviction and giving cocaine to an un- Associated Press
reviving Perez’s chances to dercover police officer. He vid Ansell of Rush University His father, Miguel Angel him to come to the U.S.
become a citizen. pleaded guilty and spent Medical Center, who start- Perez, said the military was happened so quickly that
“I’m speechless. I wish I seven years in prison and ed treating Perez while he an important part of their he was still dazed. He said
could say a lot more but was then turned over to Im- was in ICE custody. “Peo- family, with a grandfather he was most looking for-
it’s just, I’m choked up,” a migration and Customs En- ple need treatment, not and uncle who served dur- ward to seeing his children
teary-eyed Perez said out- forcement, who detained deportation.” ing wars. He said having his and eating some Chicago-
side a church, hours after him for two years. Perez Family members and son back with him Chicago style pizza and popcorn.
landing in Chicago. “I’m so was deported last year af- friends from the church was priceless. “We’ll see what happens,”
blessed to be here.” ter failing to persuade a stood by Perez’s side Tues- “Now, I have a big heart,” he said. “But I have faith in
His immigration hearing federal appeals court to day, many of them offering he said in Spanish. God that I am going to be
was set for Wednesday, block his removal. warm hugs and prayers. Perez said the decision for able to stay home.”q
but it’s unknown when im- Perez said he faced “dan-
gerous” conditions while
migration officials will de- living in Tijuana, Mexico, af- Unmarried partners in U.S.
cide the case.
ter his deportation, but he
Officials with U.S. Citizen- didn’t want to talk about it. have tripled in 2 decades
ship and Immigration Ser-
vices and U.S. Customs and He also declined to discuss
Border Protection declined about how he was manag- By MIKE SCHNEIDER 1996 to 19.1 million in 2018. ization. But it’s also viewed
to comment, citing pri- ing PTSD, saying it was too Associated Press The report says unmarried as an alternative to mar-
vacy laws. Perez is among personal. A new U.S. Census Bureau partners are older, bet- riage for low-income and
several deported military His doctor was among report says the number of ter educated, more likely less educated people.
members who have been those who came to wel- unmarried partners living to earn higher wages and As a group, unmarried
recently pardoned by come him home at the together has tripled in the more racially diverse than partners are still small com-
Democratic governors. His church. past two decades due in the past. pared to married partners,
case has received wide “Miguel was failed on mul- to greater social accep- Benjamin Gurrentz, a bu- who numbered 127 million
support, including from in- tiple occasions by our im- tance. reau survey statistician, in 2018.
cluding from Sen. Tammy migration service, for sure, The report released this writes that the growth in The report used data from
Duckworth of Illinois, a vet- and our treatment service week says the number unmarried cohabitation re- the Current Population
eran who said Tuesday that for veterans,” said Dr. Da- went from nearly 6 million in flects an increasing normal- Survey.q