Thank You For Your Service, Now Get Out of My Country

The MPT Border Team was invited to join Unified U.S. Deported Veterans and Veterans for Peace at a powerful event, “Thank You For Your Service, Now Get Out of My Country” held at Enclave Carocal in Tijuana.
The evening opened with film clips of deported veterans telling their stories as part of a collaborative video project with UC-Davis followed by a panel discussion led by 2 of the more than 50 deported vets in Tijuana and a Gold Star father whose son is currently in the U.S. military. One of the Deported Vets, Hector, said “If I’m dead I can go back (to U.S) like nothing. They’ll ship my ashes home and send a flag to my family.”
Prior to their deportation, these vets were legal permanent residents living in the US between 3 - 48 years with their families on green cards. Some were summoned to appear at immigration hearings while overseas, their  commanders making the false promise that they would handle the situation. Others struggling with PTSD were deported over minor drug offenses. 
The event concluded with representatives from Veterans for Peace, including VFP National President, Jerry Condan, placing the migrant crisis in the context of U.S. foreign policy and militarism, especially in Central America.
MPT was honored to have been invited to this event and to place a peace team the following day at an event co-sponsored by the veterans.  More to follow on how we can help bring these deported vets back to the U.S. where many of them have family waiting for their loved ones to return home.