US GAO: Actions Needed to Better Handle, Identify, and Track Cases Involving Veterans

The U.S. General Accountability Office in a report has concluded that, although the U.S. government has policies on immigrant veterans, it does not always comply with them. 

Noncitizens who serve in the U.S. military may be eligible for citizenship. If a noncitizen veteran violates immigration law, Immigration and Customs Enforcement may seek to remove the veteran from the country. However, ICE policies require it to take additional steps prior to removal actions, such as considering their service record.

The GAO found that ICE did not consistently follow these policies from 2013-2018. ICE also does not maintain complete electronic data on these veterans. As a result, ICE does not know how many veterans have been placed in removal proceedings or removed.

THE GAO recommended that ICE collect and maintain data on veterans.

KJ