Deported veterans face a severe and often overlooked problem: after serving the United States, they are at risk of deportation due to failures in the naturalization process during their service time or due to minor criminal offenses post-service. Historically, noncitizens have served valiantly in the U.S. armed forces, with a strong record of dedication and lower dropout rates. Despite this, many noncitizen veterans have been misinformed about their citizenship status or have had their naturalization applications lost or mishandled. The irony is stark; veterans who risk their lives for the nation are not guaranteed the citizenship they were promised, and instead of being treated with the respect due to their service, they face the possibility of deportation.

The consequences of this deportation are dire. Not only are these individuals separated from their families and the country they served, but they are also often sent to countries where they have no ties, face language barriers, and lack access to the Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care they are entitled to. The trauma of deportation is compounded by the fact that these veterans, many of whom suffer from service-related conditions such as PTSD, are left without the necessary support systems. Currently the number of deported veterans are unknown due to ICE refusing to adhere to their own policy of taking veteran service into consideration during deportation proceedings. According to PBS, it has been estimated that upwards to 94,000 veterans have been deported. Previous legislative changes have stripped judges of the discretion to consider a veteran's service when facing deportation, resulting in a harsh reality where those who served honorably are turned away from the very nation they defended.