Vietnam veterans at risk of being deported

Manuel Valenzuela (left) and his brother Valente Valenzuela, both Vietnam War veterans, are at risk for deportation even though they were born to a mother who was a native of New Mexico. The brothers were erroneously listed as resident aliens on their birth certificates. less Manuel Valenzuela (left) and his brother Valente Valenzuela, both Vietnam War veterans, are at risk for deportation even though they were born to a mother who was a native of New Mexico. The brothers were ... more Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Vietnam veterans at risk of being deported 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO – Valente and Manuel Valenzuela, two brothers who served in the Vietnam War and now are in their 60s, are facing deportation by the U.S. government they fought to protect.

The two say they are not alone and spent this weekend in San Antonio as part of an awareness campaign to shed light on immigration policies that lead to deportation of undocumented veterans in the U.S. military.

“We feel like we're fighting another war, but this time, it's against the government of the very country we love and grew up wanting to protect,” Manuel Valenzuela said in an interview Sunday.

Manuel, 61, is a former Marine who carried out rescue missions, and Valente, 65, was an Army soldier who was wounded in combat and received a Bronze Star. Both were born to a mother who was a native of New Mexico but were erroneously listed as resident aliens on their birth certificate. They said the military told them would make sure they were given citizenship after serving.

But about 40 years later, the Department of Homeland Security is trying to deport them to Mexico, a country they have not been to since childhood, after stricter laws were later enacted that provoke deportation of veterans with misdemeanor convictions who aren't documented as citizens.

The brothers said their criminal records include only misdemeanors: Manuel for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Valente for domestic violence. The offenses were committed more than 10 years ago, and the brothers contend they have paid their debt to society for the misdeeds.

In November 2008, Manuel received a removal notice from Homeland Security stating he was being deported from this country. A few months later, Valente received a similar notice.

Local poet Viktoria Valenzuela, no relation, organized the brothers' visit to San Antonio, their first to the city. In a question-and-answer session at the Southwest Workers Union on Sunday, the brothers described their treatment by the federal government as “unfair.”

Manuel Valenzuela said their case is at a standstill, but they want their story to expose a problem “larger than themselves.” He said undocumented U.S. service members are “not afforded the very protections they risk their own lives to protect for their fellow Americans.”

Their case has caught the eye of John J. Valadez, a national documentary filmmaker who's garnered acclaim for his work on the PBS series “Latino Americans” debuting this month.

On Sunday, Valadez screened a teaser to his documentary on the brothers called “American Exile” and filmed their local appearance for the project. The cause has gotten local support as last week the San Antonio-based National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures awarded Valadez a $6,216 grant to help underwrite the one-hour documentary.

fvara-orta@express-news.net

Twitter: @fvaraorta

Elaine Ayala contributed to this report.