Democrats Launch Probe Into Detentions of Military Families by Immigration Authorities

According to reports, the Trump administration's immigration crackdown is leading to the detention and return of military family members to their home countries. This has led Democratic lawmakers to demand answers from the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security.

There are 61 Democrats from both houses who signed a message to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and other immigration officials on Tuesday. The letter asks for specific information on how many service members, veterans, and family members who are not citizens have been detained or sent for deportation since January. Responses are due on September 16.

They wrote, "These alarming accounts go against decades of precedent and DHS policy that noncitizens' military service is a mitigating factor when considering immigration enforcement."

Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Tammy Duckworth, and Dick Durbin (Illinois) are leading the study. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire), and Delia Ramirez (Illinois) are also working on it. Leading the study are Representatives Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Delia Ramirez of Illinois.

News stories about military families becoming entangled in law enforcement activities sparked the investigation. 

ICE officers beat up the father of two active-duty Marines in California while they were arresting him at work. ICE officers detained the wife of a Marine veteran who was going to an appointment for a green card related to a different case. Spouses of Coast Guard and Army members have been involved in similar situations.

For many years, service as a noncitizen has been a way to become a citizen. Families who do service can avoid removal through programs like parole-in-place. But the Trump government changed those rules so that being in the military no longer protects people from immigration enforcement.

Some people say the changes hurt confidence and make it harder to hire new people. "Telling them they cannot come home or detaining or intimidating them is a direct threat to our military readiness and credibility," Houlahan said in a statement.

As the minority party, Democrats do not have the power to subpoena, but Warren promised to look into every choice. She said, "Democrats in Congress will use every tool at their disposal to hold the administration responsible for this unprecedented attack on our military."        

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