The Department of Veterans Affairs came under attack from Democratic lawmakers who accused the agency of targeting noncitizens employed by or affiliated with the agency. The VA has ordered agency leaders to compile information on noncitizens and forward adverse findings to immigration officials. (Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers on Friday demanded answers from President Donald Trump’s administration on how it plans to use a report the Department of Veterans Affairs is compiling on noncitizens employed by or affiliated with the agency.
More than 55 lawmakers signed a letter accusing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins of stoking fear among noncitizens who are VA workers or have other connections with the agency.
“For the past year, the Trump Administration has shown a complete disregard for individuals’ immigration statuses, including those of veterans,” according to the letter.
Veterans represent a quarter of the VA workforce, which numbers about 440,000, according to VA figures.
The letter-writing campaign was organized by members of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees. They are Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill.; Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif.; and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Takano and Blumenthal are the top Democrats on their respective committees.
“It is deplorable that this administration has brought veterans and veteran care into its misguided mass deportation and detention scheme. Not only is VA targeting its own employees, but it’s casting an even wider net to include those ‘affiliated with VA,’ ” Takano said Friday.
“The Trump administration’s track record of recklessness in deporting individuals with every right to be in this country, including veterans, leads me to worry that this data collection exercise will have damaging, long-lasting effects,” Takano said.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Army National Guard veteran, and Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., a physician who previously worked at the VA, are other committee members who signed the letter.
The lawmakers were responding to a VA directive instructing agency leaders to identify noncitizens employed by or affiliated with the agency for further investigation. Any adverse findings will be sent to agencies that handle immigration enforcement, the VA said.
The Democratic lawmakers said in the letter Friday that the data collection on noncitizens shows a lack of understanding about how “foreign-born individuals are serving our veterans.”
The letter cited as example the global competition for top researchers and scientists who can contribute to medical advances, including for veterans’ health.
Peter Kasperowicz, the VA press secretary, said Friday the VA will respond to the lawmakers directly.
“VA is required by federal law to continuously vet all employees and affiliates, such as unpaid researchers and others who may have access to VA data or systems, to ensure they meet the federal government’s trusted workforce standards,” Kasperowicz said.
“As part of this continuous process, VA on Nov. 25 directed undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and other key officials to provide a report on all non-United States citizens who are employed by or affiliated with VA. This will not affect veterans seeking care or services at VA, or the delivery of care and services,” he said.
But Takano said the “VA relies on talent born both in and outside of the United States to fulfill a number of duties critical to ensuring veterans get the care and benefits they have earned.”
Noem on Thursday faced accusations by House Democrats that she was targeting military families and veterans for deportation.
Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., said during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing that the Department of Homeland Security is deporting military veterans and their family members.
Magaziner pointed to the case of Sae Joon Park, a 55-year-old Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, who faced a removal order by the Trump administration. He subsequently self-deported to South Korea.
Park is a lawful permanent resident who lived in the U.S. for most of his life but faced charges related to drug possession and jumping bail decades ago. Park said he had a drug addiction related to undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder after military service.
“He was arrested in the 1990s for some minor drug offenses, nothing serious. He never hurt anyone besides himself, and he’s been clean and sober for 14 years,” Magaziner said at the hearing.
