Marine combat veteran who served in Iraq facing deportation to El Salvador (NBC News)

“… His sister said that during his time in detention, Segovia Benitez has helped other detainees and is “really loved.”

“He’s very helpful and obviously cares about people,” she said.

Jeff Merrick, a retired master sergeant with the Air Force, said deporting veterans like Segovia Benitez after they served time was a “total disgrace.”

“They got into trouble, yes, they had issues, but they served their time, and instead of like other citizens, where they’re released back into the community, where they can have a life again, they’re committed to a life term of exile,” said Merrick, who is a board member with the group Military Families Speak Out.”

Military Families Speak Out supports the action of governors of 11 states in denouncing President Trump’s immigration policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border by pulling their National Guard troops from the border and announcing that they won’t be deploying any more of the state’s military or will recall troops already sent. The states include Colorado, Delaware,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. MFSO does not want our loved ones in the military to be part of enforcing this inhumane policy.

Military Families Speak Out is a national organization of families whose loved ones have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. We urge the governors of the remaining states to take a similar action and withdraw or recall their state’s National Guard.

Los oponentes dijeron que prefieren que el dinero sea gastado en educación, por lo que van a seguir sosteniendo manifestaciones, al igual que en otras ciudades, hasta lograr que el gobierno federal reflexione. Según el Secretario de Defensa, 4000 jóvenes estadounidenses serían enviados a Afganistán. (Clink link to view)