Top News

Democrats Probe Trump Deportation Efforts Targeting U.S. Military Families/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Congressional Democrats are investigating deportation efforts affecting U.S. service members and their relatives. An AP investigation found that immigration authorities detained more than 50 spouses and parents of active-duty troops. Lawmakers say the policy may divide military families, disrupt deployments and contradict immigration protections promoted by recruiters.

Quick Look

• More than 60 Democratic lawmakers signed the inquiry letter.
• It was sent to DHS, the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• The lawmakers are investigating possible coordination between DHS and the military.
• More than 50 relatives of active-duty troops have reportedly been detained.
• Some service members took leave or delayed deployments to care for children.
• Democrats say the deportations threaten military readiness and morale.
• DHS says military service does not automatically provide legal immigration status.
• The Pentagon said it would respond directly to the lawmakers.
• The VA did not immediately comment.
• Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal and Tammy Duckworth are leading the probe.
• Lawmakers want previous protections for military families restored.
• Trump recently created a Military Spouse Commission.
• The Pentagon says it has not studied the effect of deportations on readiness or morale.

Deep Look

Democrats investigate deportations affecting military families

Congressional Democrats have opened an investigation into the Trump administration’s attempts to deport U.S. military personnel and members of their families.

The inquiry follows an Associated Press investigation that identified more than 50 spouses and parents of active-duty troops who had been detained by immigration authorities.

More than 60 Democratic lawmakers signed a letter sent Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs.

They are seeking information about whether DHS and the Pentagon are coordinating immigration enforcement involving service members and their relatives.

Lawmakers raise ethical and legal concerns

The letter includes an extensive list of questions for the three federal departments.

Democrats said any cooperation between the military and immigration authorities to deport service members’ family members “raises both ethical and legal concerns.”

They want to know how potential deportation cases are identified, whether military officials share information with immigration authorities and what protections remain available to relatives of service members.

The inquiry is being led by Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, along with several House Democrats.

AP investigation finds protections rolled back

The AP investigation found that the Trump administration had reduced immigration protections for military families as part of its mass-deportation campaign.

Previous administrations from both parties generally supported policies shielding immediate relatives of service members from immigration enforcement while they pursued legal status.

The Trump administration has moved away from that bipartisan approach.

The resulting detentions have forced some active-duty troops to take leave from their assignments so they can care for children after their spouses were taken into custody.

Some service members have also delayed deployments.

Those disruptions have raised questions about whether immigration enforcement against military families is reducing unit readiness and interfering with service members’ duties.

Recruiters continue advertising immigration protections

Democratic lawmakers asked why military recruiters continue to promote immigration protections while members of troops’ families face detention and deportation.

The possibility of protecting or regularizing the status of relatives can be an important consideration for noncitizens and people from mixed-status families deciding whether to enlist.

Lawmakers said continuing to advertise those protections while rolling them back could mislead potential recruits.

Citing the AP’s findings, they urged the administration to restore previous policies that allowed military relatives to remain in the United States while applying to adjust their immigration status.

DHS defends immigration enforcement

DHS said it values the contributions made by American military personnel but maintained that service does not automatically protect relatives from immigration enforcement.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the allegations or questions contained in the letter.

The Department of Veterans Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Republican committee leaders also remained publicly silent.

Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Its. Jerry Moran of Kansaschairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, did not respond to requests for comment.

Pentagon says it has not studied readiness effects

In a December letter to Democratic lawmakers obtained by the AP, the Defense Department said it had not recently changed its policies governing noncitizen military family members.

The department also acknowledged that it had not analyzed how deportations affect military morale or readiness.

That lack of analysis is likely to become a significant focus of the congressional inquiry.

Lawmakers want to know whether the administration considered the operational consequences of detaining a service member’s spouse or parent before adopting its enforcement approach.

Such detentions can create child care emergencies, financial hardship and emotional stress for active-duty personnel, potentially affecting their ability to deploy or perform assigned duties.

Trump creates Military Spouse Commission

The investigation comes shortly after Trump established a Military Spouse Commission.

The commission is chaired by Jennifer Rauchet, the wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It is responsible for developing policy recommendations to improve life for military spouses.

In a letter published in the Federal Register on Aug. 6, Trump emphasized the relationship between military spouses and operational readiness.

The White House did not respond when asked about the apparent conflict between those statements and immigration enforcement affecting troops’ spouses.

Advocates say troops are being betrayed

Organizations assisting veterans and military families facing deportation say the government is failing to honor its obligations to those who serve.

Danitza James, president of Repatriate Our Patriotssaid service members enlist with an expectation that the country will protect their families while they perform dangerous duties.

The congressional investigation will seek to determine how widespread the enforcement actions are, whether agencies are coordinating them and what effect they are having on recruitment, retention, deployment and military morale.

More on US News