Semper Fi? Decorated Marine vet may be deported, despite likely U.S. citizenship

August 30, 2017

Joe Watson and Paul Ingram for the Tucson Sentinel report on a deeply disturbing removal case.

A decorated veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in the Persian Gulf War was transferred to an immigration detention facility in Eloy, Ariz., late last week, where he faces deportation to Mexico despite evidence that he is a United States citizen.

In fact, a federal judge has already ruled that George Ybarra is a citizen. Even so, federal authorities have continued to work to deport him.

A series of mistakes and crimes on Ybarra’s part and a pattern of failures by U.S. officials have led a man to spend more than a decade in and out of the corrections system, with the veteran stranded once again in an immigration detention center. Ybarra has severe PTSD symptoms, drug problems and criminal convictions (including firing a rifle in the direction of police), but his family and attorney said he needs treatment, not banishment.

For details, check out the story at the link above.

Hat tip to my colleague, Professor Elizabeth Joh!

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