US Army Veteran Who Served In Afghanistan Deported To Mexico

CHICAGO, IL — A veteran with a green card who served two tours in Afghanistan has been deported to Mexico, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed. Miguel Perez, 39, developed PTSD after serving and had a hard time finding work, his family and supporters said. Perez then served time in prison on a felony drug conviction.

Perez was escorted across the US-Mexico border from Texas Friday, ICE confirmed. His supporters, who include U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, argued he had a right to stay in the country after serving the U.S. in Afghanistan. Duckworth introduced an immigration relief bill for Perez, which is still sitting in committee.

Perez told the Chicago Tribune that his military training taught him to never give up.

"I'm not leaving. They're taking me," he told the Tribune. "They're not going to teach me to never give up, and then I give up."

Perez was flown out Friday without a chance to say goodbye to his family, according to the report. He has two children who are U.S. citizens.

Perez said he developed PTSD and substance abuse after his second tour. He pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge after giving a laptop containing cocaine to an undercover officer in 2008. He served half of a 15-year prison sentence when ICE began deportation proceedings.

Perez was detained for months in a Wisconsin immigrant detention center away from his family, awaiting deportation. In mid-March, immigration officials denied Perez's petition for citizenship.

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