WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and other lawmakers, secured new data obtained from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealing that the Trump Administration has attempted to deport hundreds of veterans and their family members after promising immigration protections at the time of recruitment. The new data also reveals that, in some cases, the Trump Administration has targeted veterans, their families, and service members’ families for deportation even after they have applied for Military Parole in Place.  

The new data came in response to the lawmakers’ recent investigation, which Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Representatives Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) and Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL) co-led with Representative Houlahan and Senator Warren.  

In April, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescinded its long-standing policy of considering military service a “significant mitigating factor” when deciding whether to pursue immigration enforcement and issued a new policy that is far less protective of service members and their families. Even so, the military has continued to recruit new service members with the promise of immigration protections that have now been weakened or eliminated. 

The new data reveals that in the first year of the second Trump administration:  

• ICE arrested 125 veterans, nearly two-thirds of whom did not have an active criminal warrant;   

• ICE attempted to deport 282 veterans and family members, who have long been offered protection from immigration enforcement under other administrations; and  

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has used its 2025 policy on issuing Notices to Appear (NTAs) to refer over 100 immediate relatives of veterans for deportation after denying them the ability to fix their immigration status through Military Parole in Place (MPIP). 

"Those who wear our nation’s uniform deserve the protections of the law, regardless of where they were born,” said Representative Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran. “Non-citizen servicemembers have answered the call to defend our country, and they deserve respect and due process in return. The Trump Administration has failed to provide these servicemembers with the very freedoms they fought to protect. That is unacceptable. I urge USCIS to reverse course and remember the promise we made to those who raised their right hand." 

“Donald Trump’s way of thanking our veterans for their service is by targeting and deporting them and their families,” said Senator Warren. “The Trump administration must be held accountable for this betrayal.” 

“It's absolutely unconscionable that the Trump Administration is targeting our nation’s immigrant servicemembers, Veterans and their family members in their aggressive and overreaching deportation efforts,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Army veteran. “There is no higher betrayal to our heroes than to be deported by the same nation they sacrificed to defend—but this is what happens when Trump cruelly chooses to implement policies more rooted in hate than in logic.” 

“The Trump Administration is betraying our military by deporting immigrant veterans,” said Senator Dick Durbin. “Wearing our country’s uniform in service is an ultimate sign of patriotism, and military service has rightfully protected immigrants from deportation for decades. The dozens of immigrant veterans who the Trump Administration has detained or deported deserve to be reunited with their loved ones, brought back, and issued an apology. This practice must be halted immediately. DHS, hands off military families.” 

“We make a sacred promise to every patriot who serves our country in uniform: we will stand by you and your family,” said Representative Maggie Goodlander. “Betraying that promise by going after veterans is dishonorable and dangerous. We need full transparency and real accountability — now.” 

A copy of the response received from DHS is available here.

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