Torres Statement on Trump Administration Plan to Remove Deportation Protections for Families of Active Duty Troops

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration is planning to roll back the parole in place program, which allows the undocumented family members of active duty servicemembers to remain in the U.S. temporarily:

"President Trump's cruelty has no limits. Now he wants to punish our active duty military. As the mother of an Air Force veteran, I know firsthand the toll that separation takes on our families. Families who already sacrifice so much should never have to live in fear of being torn apart by a deportation force. While military spouses may not have served in the armed forces, they play a vital role in making sure our active duty troops have a strong support system and loving family to return to when they come home. Our brave servicemembers are willing to put their lives on the line for our country. The least we can do for them to make sure their needs—and those of their families—are met. Congress must act now to right this wrong and ensure due process for our military families."

Torres is a member of the powerful House Appropriations and Rules Committee. She is an original cosponsor of H.R. 557, Protect Patriot Spouses Act, which would help protect military spouses facing deportation by allowing for adjustment to immigration status. In 2017, Torres traveled to Mexico to meet with deported U.S. veterans to understand and address the barriers preventing them from accessing the veterans benefits earned through service to our country.

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