Change.org To Feature Brothers Valenzuela In Email Campaign

San Francisco, California - Change.org selected a petition to the President of the United States to stop deporting U.S. Veterans and Bring deported veterans home.  

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Specifically, the petition is designed to stop the unfair harassment of two Viet Nam veterans, Manuel and Valente Valenzuela.  The Valenzuela Brothers found themselves in removal or deportation proceedings after applying to renew their driver's licenses.  The Brothers have lived in the U.S. nearly all of their lives and have a U.S. citizen mother.

Valente Valenzuela arrived in 'Nam shortly after the Tet offensive.  Valente soon found himself working in a section of the military whose activities remain secret today.  Valente says he still suffers nightmares from his experiences.

Latino Fox News.com

Manuel soon followed Valente to serve the U.S. performing rescue services for at-risk military teams.  Like his brother Valente, Manuel put his life on the line in active duty combat situations.  Many soldiers never returned from theater, others returned severely maimed.  The brothers took that chance supporting the country they call home.

Upon return from Viet Nam, both Valenzuela Brothers suffered the disgrace placed upon them by U.S. citizens angry at the Johnson Administration for it's escalation of the war.  A soldier who places his life on the line has no say in how and where he is deployed, yet one of the brothers remembers clearly having human feces thrown at him upon his return to the U.S.

Please sign the petition to stop deporting veterans and bring deported veterans home!  Stop the injustice to the Valenzeula Brothers and all veterans!

Life continued for the Valenzuela brothers for many years.  Each brother encountered minor skirmishes with the law as they dealt with their memories and trauma of life and death in a war zone. Each brother worked hard to follow the rule of law set down in the U.S., especially in the 911 environment.  What a surprise was in store for the brothers when they renewed their driver's licenses.  They received a notice to report to Homeland Security.  From there, deportation cases were opened on the elderly Viet Nam vets.

That is when the Brothers Valenzuela, as they like be called, found out they are not the only soldiers to face the wrath of aggressive actions by the Department of Homeland Security.  Many soldiers have been deported.  Homeland Security says they don't really know how many, because they don't keep statistics on who is a veteran and who is not, when they institute deportation proceedings.

Fabian Rebolledo, Getty Images

I had the chance to meet Fabian Rebolledo when I traveled with the Valenzuela brothers to the border to conduct a protest over the deportation of veterans.  

I will never forget the interview I did with Fabian's son who had an extremely difficult time talking about what could happen to his father.







   You can help return deported veterans by signing the petition from Change.org

U.S. Veteran Ask Senator Bennet To Help Stop Deporting Veterans

Stop deporting U.S. veterans
Bring Deported Veterans Home

Manuel and Valente Valenzuela fought in Viet Nam.  Years later, after applying to renew their driver's licenses, little could they know they would have to fight the very country for which they offered their lives to during the Viet Nam war.

The Valenzeula Brothers ask the White House to issue an executive order to halt the deportation of veterans and to bring deported veterans home.

Both brothers put their lives on the line in active duty.  Valente arrived in 'Nam just after the Tet Offensive.  His brother came later. Valente was recruited by a special services division.  He says he cannot talk about what he was required to do, even to this date.  However, the activities give him nightmares.

Manuel was part of a team that rescued soldiers in trouble.  Both he and Valente got into the thick of fighting in support of an unpopular war.  

When they returned to the U.S. they had human waste tossed on them.  There was no respect for the sacrifice soldiers had been making.  After living in the U.S. nearly all of their lives, they each went to the Driver's License bureau to renew their licenses.  It was post 911, and the country had changed.

Manuel hid his notice of removal for fear it would devastate his brother and closest friend, Valente.  Little did Manuel know, Valente had also hid his notice of removal.  Soon, the secret was out and both Valenzuela brothers were in a fight for their right to stay in the country for which they fought.

The brothers want the President to issue an executive order halting the deportation of veterans and to bring those veterans who have been deported, home.

Senator Michael Bennet Extends Welcome To New Citizens

Fort Carson, CO – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed a group of 13 soldiers and family members of soldiers as they became American citizens during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremony held at Fort Carson. 

The new American citizens hail from all over the world including Colombia, Haiti, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, China, Philippines, South Korea, Togo, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

“These individuals have bravely served and sacrificed for this country.  It is a special and exciting moment to see them as they become a part of the fabric of this great nation,” Bennet said. “We are a nation of immigrants, and these ceremonies remind us of the important contributions immigrants make to our communities.”

“It is also a reminder that we have to continue working to fix our broken immigration system to ensure that we are welcoming the best and brightest into America and that we make it possible for other immigrants to share in this momentous experience.”

As a member of the “gang of 8” that co-authored the immigration reform bill that passed the Senate last year, Bennet has been actively involved in crafting immigration policy and working to fix our broken system.  In Colorado, he brought farmers, ranchers, law enforcement agencies, faith leaders, and Latino advocates together to craft a set of principles called the Colorado Compact.  The Compact helped inform work in the “gang of 8.”

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress. After naturalization, foreign-born citizens enjoy nearly all the same benefits, rights, and responsibilities that the Constitution gives to native-born U.S. citizens, including the right to vote.

Naturalization for military members and their families is expedited.  Over the last decade, roughly 93,000 members of the armed forces have become U.S. citizens.  Unfortunately, the Valenzuela Brothers, from Colorado, who fought in the Viet Nam war have been unable to naturalize.  The current law refuses to over-look the contribution veterans have made to the country in relationship to their record after leaving the service.  Many Viet Nam veterans, for example, were severely traumatized by the insanity of in-theater fighting.  After returning home, they fell astray of the law.   The current law makes little exception for immigrant soldiers.

Meanwhile, President Obama continues his record of deportations far exceeding the Bush/Cheney numbers.  Latinos are unhappy with the President for his refusal to sign an executive order halting deportations in lieu of his inability to bring lawmakers together on immigration reform.  Even some Latino leaders disagree on the executive order.  If left as the status quo, it would leave immigrants in a never-ending second- class-citizen limbo in which they never have a say in the government that controls them, while always being subject to loss of status each time a president takes office.  An executive order would at least stop the dismantling of families.

Republican lawmakers are pushing for a piecemeal solution to immigration which will increase immigrants in the high tech sector, presumably lowering the cost of labor.  They blame the Democrats for holding piecemeal measures up in the U.S. House of Representatives pending a vote on the entire immigration package.  However, a few House Republicans are holding up a harsh, re-written, version of of the U.S. Senate bill which would likely pass if key Republicans would allow it.  Hence, Republicans might do better to point fingers at their own party leadership for the failure to vote on an immigration package which will identify most people in the country, thus making America more secure.

Colorado Asset Phone Bank! Pass SB 126!

THE SIGN SAYS IT ALL!

We must pass rational immigration reform!  Until we do, this is as good as it is going to get!  Let's send young people to school!  Let's keep our brain trust in the US! 

U

Can

Make

A

Difference!

Azteca Auto Concepts has been a strong leader in immigration reform!  If you need tires or mechanical services, please talk to them!  1120 South Federal Blvd. in Denver, tell Tony Tim and Manny sent you!  303-742-4749

Las Suavacitas Del Recuerdo Con Dream Act!

Talented organizers will be on 1150 AM Denver Radio with Las suavacitas del Recuerdo on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.  Please join them in a lively discussion of the Dream Act and what is going on in today's immigration reform!

Las Suavacitas Del Recuerdo, EN VIVO

Tim Paynter, the attorney and Manny, The King, will be your hosts for a lively hour of songs and peaceful revolution for the change our country so desperately needs!

1150 am FROM 11 am to 12 pm Saturdays!

  Mountain Time! 

Call 303.337.1150!

Listen on line at:  Las Suavacitas del Recuerdo!

With

Willy Garcia, Production

and young people fighting for the

Dream Act! 

Republican Greed Says Hell No To Dream Act, Don't Ask Don't Tell

Tax Cuts For Millionaires

The Injustice Of Democracy

When senate Republicans signed a "No Vote Pact" in which they refused to vote for social issues during the Lame Duck session until tax breaks were given for multi-millionaires, they defined a party far out of touch with the rest of American culture.  While many middle class couples could see how a $250,000 joint income can qualify as "middle class", not many can see how an income of a million dollars qualifies as the same.  Clearly, Republicans don't represent the middle class anymore.

At stake are three critical bills.  The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the Dream Act, and a Start treaty to reduce nuclear proliferation.  None of these issues are as important to Republicans as getting an extension of Bush era tax cuts on incomes from $250,000 to $1,000,000.  It is the sign of the new ugly American.  The super wealthy pushing their weight around until they have sated their greedy appetites on the backs of the tax paying public.  Once they get what they want, which appears to have happened today, then perhaps they will consider the "other issues".

Jessica Olivas, an immigrant rights activist, helps the local students organize in San Antonio, Texas.  15 students were arrested.  Some have been on hunger strike for 27 days.

After securing more money for opulent lifestyles, it looks as if the Republicans will never share.  Don't Ask Don't tell might come up for serious consideration.  The Start treaty to prevent the world from being blown into a billion pieces is most likely to get attention.  Alas, the Dream Act, in which children of undocumented immigrants ask for a chance to go to school, is the least likely to get the Republican nod.  Those who have more than enough are not willing to let others have anything, lest in some remote way, it cost them a centavo.

Jessica Olivas, Organizer Promise Arizona

Jessica talks about why she came to Arizona and what she hopes to accompish!

Paz Fellowship changes lives!

Jessica later was moved to organizer and has been very effective in reaching Latino voters in Arizona.  What an opportunity to change lives and find personal growth!