Posted on Dec 16, 2018
Deported Vietnam War veteran dies in Mexico, loses battle for US citizenship
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/deported-vietnam-war-veteran-dies-in-mexico-loses-battle-for-us-citizenship/ [login to see] 20?fbclid=IwAR0f_wDZJIZS9DR2Zoo6y-_h0uiGEoscRojAw185CLKi1d28UuA266eIlXg
Deported Vietnam War veteran dies in Mexico, loses battle for US citizenship
Posted from kgw.com
Vietnam
Vietnam War
Mexico
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 8
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This is a sad story with an even sadder ending. Glad that we now start the naturalization process in basic training.
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" His life changed in 1994 when he was arrested and convicted of possession of marijuana charges, serving four years in state prison before being deported to Mexico in 1998 because he lacked citizenship."
In the mid 90's they were not handing out 4 year state prison stints for a joint or personal use bag of pot. So this non citizen that had EARNED a guaranteed path to citizenship after honorably serving threw it all away from his own doing and criminal activity. Thats harsh, but his own doing No?
If his recruiter did lie, I think thats horrible of course..believable in those years, but crappy none the less.
In the mid 90's they were not handing out 4 year state prison stints for a joint or personal use bag of pot. So this non citizen that had EARNED a guaranteed path to citizenship after honorably serving threw it all away from his own doing and criminal activity. Thats harsh, but his own doing No?
If his recruiter did lie, I think thats horrible of course..believable in those years, but crappy none the less.
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SGM Erik Marquez
Ahh, so according to his sons statements , he did know he was here illegally
"Torres never finished his citizenship process, his son, Robert Mosqueda, said. He dreamed of working for the FBI or the Drug Enforcement Agency, both of which require applicants to be U.S. citizens, and twice applied for naturalization in the 1970s. The first time, he was told his application had been canceled, and then never heard back the second time, Mosqueda said."
If he really did apply for naturalization, then he was let down in that he was not assisted though the process successfully. He was owed that having honored his part of the contract.
"Torres never finished his citizenship process, his son, Robert Mosqueda, said. He dreamed of working for the FBI or the Drug Enforcement Agency, both of which require applicants to be U.S. citizens, and twice applied for naturalization in the 1970s. The first time, he was told his application had been canceled, and then never heard back the second time, Mosqueda said."
If he really did apply for naturalization, then he was let down in that he was not assisted though the process successfully. He was owed that having honored his part of the contract.
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That is sad Capt Dwayne Conyers. I do believe that if they sign up for the military, today or fifty years ago, they should have been fast tracked to citizenship. I know when I was processing OCS candidates on the Navy base here in Newport, they had to renounce any citizenship and swear allegiance to the US.
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MAJ Milan George
I can't speak to 30 years ago, but currently they are fast tracked. Especially during deployments, each unit is able to submit a very short packet for those serving seeking citizenship. It usually takes a few months but the goal is always to have the naturalization ceremony either in country or as part of the demobilization ceremony. As a Company Commander I had one Soldier that was told his legal status was expiring and that if he didn't have it fixed by the time we got back, he was going to be deported. Well, we did everything but hold his hand and he never followed through, we were on the ground back home and 3 months later, he was deported. 100% his fault, his lack of initiative and desire created the situation that he tried crying about later.
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