May 26, 2010
Military.com|by Bryant Jordan
A former Marine and Gulf War veteran may soon be boarding a flight to Jamaica -- the ticket cost picked up by the U.S. government.
But Rohan Coombs, who came to the U.S. from Jamaica as a child, is not looking forward to the return trip. He's being deported.
Coombs is not alone. By some estimates, 3,000 to 4,000 veterans are awaiting deportation, and the deportations have been going on since a 1996 law made it easier for the U.S. to boot out foreign nationals, including legal permanent residents – “green-card” holders – who served in the military if they commit crimes. Collectively, they've been dubbed "Banished Veterans" by those who say that vets – even those who have committed crimes – deserve better than to be booted from the country they served.
http://www.military.com/news/article/troubled-vets-iced-booted-from-us-.html?ESRC=eb.nl
I don't think this topic can be reasonably addressed with a short, snappy comment.
For an adult who comes here, enlists, then commits a crime, I think deportation may be warranted. But how does a man who came here as a child and then enlists fail to get his citizenship? He should have plenty of time and opportunity to do so.
Probably one answer doesn't fit all.