A US Army veteran who received the prestigious Purple Heart for his service in Iraq was brutally deported by ICE to Mexico early on Friday morning. The 39-year-old veteran, Jose Barco, a Venezuelan-born refugee who fled Cuba with his family as a child, was taken from an Arizona immigration detention facility without his family's knowledge or notification.
Barco served two tours in Iraq and sustained injuries that earned him the Purple Heart, as well as other notable military honors. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he struggled with PTSD, leading to a 15-year prison sentence for attempted murder. He was released on parole last January but was swiftly detained by ICE upon his release.
A court had previously ordered Barco's removal to either Venezuela, Cuba, or Mexico, where his family has ties. In a shocking twist, the veteran was deported to Nogales, Mexico, without confirmation of his current whereabouts. His family has been left in darkness, unaware of his destination or even if he is safe.
The situation is deeply distressing for Barco's loved ones, who are grappling with the uncertainty and lack of transparency surrounding his deportation. As one volunteer on Barco's defense team noted, the process has been "frustrating" and "devastating." Most families have some idea where their loved ones will be deported to when a removal order is issued, but Barco's family has been kept in the dark every step of the way.
The case highlights the complexities and flaws of the US immigration system. Despite his service in combat and receipt of numerous honors, Barco was stripped of his chance at citizenship due to an unknown reason. His application had been pending for years before being abandoned. As one observer noted, the deportation is a heart-wrenching reminder that even those who have fought bravely for their country can be left vulnerable and without recourse.
In a tragic turn of events, Barco was taken from his family at 4am on Friday morning without warning or notification. His whereabouts are currently unknown, leaving his loved ones with unbearable uncertainty and concern for his safety. As one official statement noted, the deportation has caused "devastation" among Barco's family and friends, who cannot comprehend how a country that values its veterans could treat one of its own in such a callous manner.
Barco served two tours in Iraq and sustained injuries that earned him the Purple Heart, as well as other notable military honors. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he struggled with PTSD, leading to a 15-year prison sentence for attempted murder. He was released on parole last January but was swiftly detained by ICE upon his release.
A court had previously ordered Barco's removal to either Venezuela, Cuba, or Mexico, where his family has ties. In a shocking twist, the veteran was deported to Nogales, Mexico, without confirmation of his current whereabouts. His family has been left in darkness, unaware of his destination or even if he is safe.
The situation is deeply distressing for Barco's loved ones, who are grappling with the uncertainty and lack of transparency surrounding his deportation. As one volunteer on Barco's defense team noted, the process has been "frustrating" and "devastating." Most families have some idea where their loved ones will be deported to when a removal order is issued, but Barco's family has been kept in the dark every step of the way.
The case highlights the complexities and flaws of the US immigration system. Despite his service in combat and receipt of numerous honors, Barco was stripped of his chance at citizenship due to an unknown reason. His application had been pending for years before being abandoned. As one observer noted, the deportation is a heart-wrenching reminder that even those who have fought bravely for their country can be left vulnerable and without recourse.
In a tragic turn of events, Barco was taken from his family at 4am on Friday morning without warning or notification. His whereabouts are currently unknown, leaving his loved ones with unbearable uncertainty and concern for his safety. As one official statement noted, the deportation has caused "devastation" among Barco's family and friends, who cannot comprehend how a country that values its veterans could treat one of its own in such a callous manner.
OMG is this real life?! 
I keep thinking there's gonna be some huge update or twist to this story, but it seems like Jose Barco just vanished into thin air! Like how is his family supposed to cope with not knowing if he's even safe? The PTSD struggles and 15-year prison sentence are one thing, but being deported without any notice or warning is a whole other level of cruel 
. I'm literally shaking thinking about this... what happened to the military honors he earned fighting for our country?! 
It's just so frustrating that these veterans can't even get their citizenship sorted out after putting everything on the line for us 
. And why did they deport him all the way to Mexico without even confirming his whereabouts?! 
. I mean, we all know about PTSD and how hard it can be to recover from, but the US gov still finds a way to deport someone with PTSD to Mexico without even checking in on them first 
. ICE needs to get their act together and start treating veterans with some respect 
. He's done so much for our country, serving two tours in Iraq and earning those medals, but the system failed him when it came to giving him citizenship or a fair chance at life after his service. 15 years in prison didn't prepare him for this kind of treatment from our own government 
. His family is still reeling from the deportation without any notice or care that their loved one was taken away 
. We need to do better by our veterans, especially those who have been through what Jose has gone through 
.
how can we trust a system that does this to someone who has already served our country? the fact that they knew where to send him but didn't bother to tell his family is just mind-blowing... i need to see some evidence or sources on this one 
I mean we have to ask ourselves why is this happening to someone who served our country with honor? What did he do wrong? It just don't feel right 
It's not right! He was going through some tough stuff with PTSD and still managed to get a Purple Heart, but we can't give him a chance at citizenship because of some bureaucratic red tape? 
. I mean, what kind of system allows this to happen? We're the land of the free, right? 
... it's like he's just another immigrant to them, not someone who fought for their freedom 
... this whole situation is just heartbreaking 
?
15 years in prison shouldn't define someone's life after they've paid their debt 
The fact that he's been serving this country for so long and received all those honors, only to be stripped away from them because of some obscure reason is just... *shakes head*. 