In 2006, honorably discharged United States Armed Forces Reservist Hector Lopez - now 46yrs old, was deported to Mexico after serving one tour in Iraq fighting for our country and our freedoms. He had lived in America since he was 4 yrs. old and considers America his home.
He became a U.S. National as per the U.S. Military Oath of enlistment - section(101)(a)(22)of the Immigration and Nationality Act. He desired only to participate in protecting the country he calls his own. By sworn oath he vowed his loyalties to the United States and was told he would not and could not be deported because of his Military service to the U.S. and has documentation to prove it.
Mr. Lopez returned from active duty and he, like many other war Veterans, got involved with drugs and alcohol to help deal with PTSD and other issues. He'd sought help from the V.A. in vain and was deported to a country he is unfamiliar with and a language that is not his own.
Mr. Lopez says, "They may as well have put me on the moon"this is not my country, the United States is my country. I'm an American. My allegiance is to the United States of America"
Separated from his children - who are legal citizens of the United States, Mr. Lopez lives and works in what he feels is a foreign land. Working for less than five American dollars a day he can't even afford to buy a Big Mac from the local McDonalds in Tijuana. He seeks only to return home to his family and exercise his right to work for a living wage as well as receive care from the V.A. as a U.S war Veteran. Mr. Lopez cannot even activate his G.I. Bill because he can't come back to America to do so.
In an unfortunate twist he goes on to tell us how Mexico doesn't even recognize him as a citizen. How can an honorably discharged U.S. Soldier be a citizen of nowhere? Who is going to right this injustice? Who can give Mr. Lopez's children back the time the United States government has stolen from them?
Call Congress, call your Senators and help make it right for this man and his family. He fought for our country and deserves to be returned to our society to be with his family. Visit banishedveterans.info for more information on Hector Lopez and nearly 3000 other banished Vets that come from all branches of the United States Military and are Veterans as far back as the Vietnam War. Surely every American can agree that these Soldiers have earned the right to continue living in the country they have bravely and willingly served?
SEE: http://banishedveterans.info
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