Letter to the editor submitted to the Ramona Sentinel by VFP Board President, Barry Ladendorf.
In photo: Barry Ladendorf
On April 20, I spent a couple of hours at the San Ysidro boarding crossing from Mexico into the United States along with Veterans For Peace members Jan Ruhman and George Johnson and other vets, supporters of Daniel Torres and the press.
We were waiting to welcome home former Marine Daniel Torres. Daniel came to U.S. as a young child with his family. He was raised in Utah where his father worked. He was not at the time of his enlistment a U.S. citizen. He lied about that because he wanted to serve his adopted country and prove his loyalty.
It was later discovered that he was not a citizen, and he was eventually deported to Mexico and stayed at the deported veteran’s house in Tijuana. He was never criminally charged. He was finally given a five-year tourist visa, which enabled him finally given a five-year tourist visa, which enabled him to come through the border last Wednesday.
On Thursday a hearing was held on his application for U.S. citizenship before an immigration judge in San Diego. I am happy to announce he was granted U.S. citizenship April 22. He was represented by an immigration law specialist from the ACLU.
Daniel will return to Mexico to finish his last year in law school and then will return to the U.S. to attend law school.
I want to thank Willie Hager, Jan Ruhman, George Johnson and all VFP members who have stood in solidarity with our deported vets and have made our Tijuana chapter a success.
Daniel's story was covered in the San Diego Union-Tribune, local television and independent media.
Great day of solidarity with an Iraq veteran.