The Trump administration's mass deportation campaign is creating widespread fear among immigrant veterans who served in the U.S. military, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
Since the start of Donald Trump's second term in 2025, federal authorities have forcibly removed at least 675,000 people, based on administration estimates as of January. While officials state the operation targets the 'worst of the worst,' veterans with criminal records fear they are also in the crosshairs.
Benito Miranda Hernandez, a 42-year-old veteran who served three tours in Iraq, lives in San Diego but does not hold U.S. citizenship. Currently working in a reentry program after several drug-related convictions, Hernandez fears his release from prison in August could lead to detention by immigration agents.
“Just walking on the street, just walking out of the programme where I'm at, I can get picked up,” Hernandez told Al Jazeera.
Born in Mexico, Hernandez grew up in California and has raised three children who are U.S. citizens. He expressed deep frustration over the possibility of being expelled from a country he defended.
“I was willing to die for this fing country,” Hernandez said. “I went to war for this fing country. And you want to try to deport me?”
A growing population at risk
Immigrants play a critical role in the U.S. military, particularly as enlistment numbers have declined. As of 2022, approximately 731,000 veterans in the U.S. were immigrants, representing about 4.5 percent of the total veteran population.
While most immigrant service members hold citizenship, an estimated 118,000 veterans do not. This group is particularly vulnerable to new enforcement policies, especially when facing the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life.
Hernandez’s struggle began after his deployment, when illegal gun charges led to his imprisonment. Upon release, he lost his apartment and possessions, eventually turning to drug sales to survive.
Data shows that roughly one-third of all veterans are arrested at least once in their lifetimes, a statistic that places many non-citizen veterans at direct risk of deportation under current administration policies.
