Deported Veterans and Veterans with Immigration and Citizenship Barriers - SCG Veteran Funders Group Meeting

Mr. Barajas-Varela was born in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico in 1977. He moved with his family to the U.S. at the age of seven and grew up in Compton, California. He became a lawful permanent resident (LPR) in 1992. Mr. Barajas-Varela enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1995 after graduating high school. He arrived in Fort Bragg and soon volunteered for Airborne School, serving in the 82nd Airborne from 1996 to 1999. He re-enlisted and served until his Honorable Discharge in 2001. Mr. Barajas-Varela was deported in 2004 after serving a prison sentence in the state of California. He returned to the U.S. that same year and started a family, but was deported in 2009 for a traffic violation. Mr. Barajas-Varela founded the Deported Veterans Support House in Tijuana in 2013, where he worked to provide support for deported veterans like himself. Since its inception, the Deported Veterans Support House has connected with hundreds of deported veterans or veterans facing deportation who served in the U.S. military. Mr. Barajas-Varela was granted a full pardon by Governor Jerry Brown of California in 2017. He returned to America and became a U.S. citizen on April 13, 2018.

Danitza “Dee” James, M.S.W., embodies the journey of resilience and service marked by dedication and determination. Arriving in Yuma, Arizona, at sixteen from Sonora, Mexico, Dee's journey took a pivotal turn when she
enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 2001, just before the events of 9/11. Over six years of active duty, including two combat tours in Iraq, she served with distinction as a heavy wheeled vehicle operator and convoy security team leader, navigating missions through the challenging Zuni triangle in Iraq. Upon transitioning from military service, Dee's commitment to her fellow servicemembers and their families remained steadfast. Dee has over 15 years of experience working with servicemembers, military families, wounded veterans and families of the fallen in the non-profit and federal government sector. Dee currently serves with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) as the Chair for the Subcommittee on Deported Veterans. Her advocacy extends to various critical areas, including Human Rights Advocacy, Mental Health, Repatriation of Veterans, Suicide Prevention, and Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention. Dee's impact is felt not only in her direct service but also through her instrumental role in legislative efforts. Her advocacy contributed to the passing of The Brandon Caserta Act and the introduction of key articles in the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act, reshaping how the military addresses cases of sexual assault and harassment. Dee continues to champion causes that uplift and protect the military community while embodying the spirit of resilience and service.