Vietnam vet brothers facing deportation

Denver, Agency
Two Mexican-born Colorado brothers are facing deportation at the end of this month, despite the fact that both are Vietnam veterans whose mother was a U.S. citizen, in connection with a minor crime committed 25 years ago.

Valente Valenzuela, 62, and brother Manuel, 58, began a campaign this week in the media and on Facebook to ask U.S. authorities to reconsider their case at the Sept. 20 final immigration audience.

According to the information provided by the Valenzuelas, Manuel had a "minor incident" with the law in 1985 and Valente confronted something similar in 2005, in his case: driving with an invalid drivers license.

Five years ago, Manuel received a letter from immigration authorities informing him that he would be deported. Valente received a similar document last year.

The brothers said that their loyalty is to the United States, as proven by the fact that Manuel served with the Marines in Vietnam and Valente was in the Army.

Valente and Manuel come from a family of 11 children. Their mother was from New Mexico, and their father was born in Mexico, but he became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

"The ongoing deportation of Vietnam veterans concerns us, including these two brothers who, because they could be deported soon, are the focus of our attention at this time. Therefore, we need an immediate response," said Hedy Trevino, the administrator of the Facebook group Stop the Deportation of Vietnam Veterans.

Gary Cavazos, another leader of the group, said that he spoke on Tuesday with both Valenzuela brothers and that Manuel told him that "he feels grateful for the support that they are beginning to receive" and that "he didn't think that anyone in the world would care about his situation."