The Trump administration has initiated deportation proceedings against 34 former military members and arrested 125 others for immigration violations over the past year, reversing Biden-era protections for service members and their families.
Federal data obtained by The New York Times shows 248 relatives of veterans were placed in deportation proceedings after the administration rescinded preferential treatment guidance.
The policy contradicts military recruitment pledges promising citizenship pathways and family protection.
In May 2025, Purple Heart recipient Sae Joon Park self-deported to South Korea after an immigration officer informed him he faced deportation despite living in the U.S. since childhood and fighting PTSD from Panama service.
Nearly 27,000 active duty immigrants currently serve, with 115,000 immigrant veterans in the total veteran population. Family members now fear applying for temporary protection benefits, concerned applications will trigger deportation.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) criticized the policy as disrespectful to veterans, while DHS defended it, stating no one should be exempt from immigration law.
Watch the video below.
This browser does not support the video element.