I'm an immigrant, and I vote 'pro-veteran' | Florida Voices

Florida Voices is a project of the USA TODAY Network-Florida that spotlights issues important to Floridians this election year. Learn more, including how to nominate a Floridian.

Don't try to put Janeth Castrejon in a demographic box.

She defies easy categorization.

She's a native of Panama who fled to Florida with her mother and siblings in 1989 to escape the oppressive regime of Manuel Noriega.

She's a business advocate who serves as board chair for the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

She's a single woman who struggles with the high cost of housing in the Fort Myers area.

And when it comes to voting, above all else, she is a veteran. She served four years in the Army at North Carolina's Fort Bragg. They were the toughest years of her life.

“Any veteran I run into is a brother or sister," the 44-year-old says. "Only us, we know how difficult and how challenging it is.”

That's why she supports candidates who will improve benefits for those who have served.

“In every election, I always look for a candidate that’s pro-veteran," says Castrejon, who became a U.S. citizen after serving in the military. "Let’s help our veterans get affordable housing, health care, jobs, get rid of homelessness — all those issues that veterans face.”

She sees ample room for improvement.

Like many veterans, Castrejon has been frustrated by delays in receiving health care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Basic doctor's appointments can require months of waiting.

She also is troubled by incidents of military sexual trauma. A national VA screening program shows 1 in 4 women and 1 in 100 men have experienced military sexual trauma — defined as any sexual activity where a service member is involved against his or her will.

When Castrejon was in the Army, the attitude about sexual trauma was, "You’re a soldier, tough it up,” she recalls. Or worse: "You had it coming."

Recently, she's been struck by the courage of service members who have spoken out about their own sexual trauma.

“Protect us, listen to us. And don’t make us feel like it was our fault, when none of us were asking for it,” Castrejon says.

Castrejon has worked in several fields since her time in the Army, and she's now working toward a bachelor's degree at Florida Gulf Coast University. Her goal is to climb the ranks at CareerSource Southwest Florida, a nonprofit where she is a social media coordinator.

“I’ve finally found what I want to be when I grow up,” she says, smiling.

Castrejon also is an advocate for the Hispanic business community in Southwest Florida. In particular, she sees a need for better access to capital for Hispanic entrepreneurs.

“These are immigrants that come from other countries. They have faced tremendous challenges in third-world countries, and they have come to the United States for the big dream — the dream to own their own business, the dream to pass it onto their families and grow,” Castrejon explains.

When asked how she views the political debate over immigration, she confesses it's a delicate subject.

“I’m more pro-diversity and immigration — but let’s abide by the laws of this country. Let’s respect that this country requires certain things," she says.

"This is my homeland, this is what I protected. So immigration just has to be done the right way.”

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What issues are most important to you this election year?

No. 1 is definitely veterans.

No. 2 would be workforce/affordable housing. I live by myself, and affording that home on my own is still a challenge on the salaries we see in Southwest Florida.

Another concern that I have in Florida is the gap in salary between male professionals and female professionals. Ever since I came into the civilian world after the military, it has been a struggle to constantly prove myself — as a woman in any profession, as a Latina in any profession.

When you think about the future of Florida, what worries you?

Part of it has to be our environment: sea-level rise; protection of the Everglades.

Can we sustain the number of people moving to this state? It’s a big issue. Will it sustain the water quality? The rising sea level? Things of that nature?

What makes you hopeful about Florida's future?

I am hopeful that we will continue to have amazing job opportunities and careers for any individuals who want to move to the area.

Janeth Castrejon

Age: 44

Occupation: Chair of Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; social media coordinator for CareerSource Southwest Florida

Lives in: Fort Myers

Election issues: Veterans health care; workforce housing; gender pay gap