Hispanic Caucus Endorses Soto Bill to Protect Military Spouses from Deportation

Press Release

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has endorsed Congressman Darren Soto's bill, the Protect Patriot Spouses Act (H.R. 557), supporting the Juarez family and all military spouses facing deportation.

"Since the initial introduction of this legislation in 2018, Rep. Soto's constituent, Alejandra Juarez, alongside many other military families, faced the harsh reality of this administration's zero-tolerance immigration policies and was deported to Mexico," wrote the Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. "We cannot let another day go by and allow this administration to continue to tear families apart. We must take swift action to ensure another American family is not torn apart by this administration's harsh immigration policies. The time to act is now. "

"I remember joining the Juarez family at the airport on the day of the deportation and witnessing the devastating impact of President Trump's harsh immigration policies," said Congressman Soto. "Since that day, I made a promise to the Juarez family to never give up fighting to reunite them. I'm thankful to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for supporting our bill, the Protect Patriot Spouses Act. We demand a lot from the men and women who choose to serve in our military, and yet today, many live in fear that the very country they fight to protect might soon tear their own family apart. That's why we urge the Judiciary Committee to take up our legislation and help keep families together."

"I'm deeply grateful for the support of Congressman Soto and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for fighting to reunite our family," said Alejandra Juarez. "My husband served his country in the Marines and the Army, believing that his family would be protected by his sacrifice. There are many other veterans whose families, like ours, have been cruelly split apart. I pray this needless suffering can be stopped."

In August 2018, Alejandra Juarez, a Polk County resident of over 20 years, was deported from the United States to her home country of Mexico. Alejandra's husband, Sgt. Temo Juarez is an Iraq combat veteran who served in the Marines and the Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard, and together they raised their two U.S. born daughters Pamela, 19, and Estela, 11, in Davenport, Florida.

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