(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) U.S. Army veteran Miguel Perez Jr., who fought for and won U.S. citizenship in 2019 after years in immigration detention and deportation to Mexico, has died in 2025 while visiting family in Mexico. Perez’s death comes six years after he took the oath in Chicago and vowed to advocate for other deported veterans who, like him, believed their wartime service protected their status in the United States 🇺🇸.
Perez served two combat tours in Afghanistan and returned with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a traumatic brain injury. His mental health struggles fed a drug addiction. A conviction for cocaine delivery led to a 7½-year prison sentence, after which immigration authorities revoked his green card and deported him in 2017.
Perez had not filed for citizenship during his service, mistakenly thinking his military record made him a citizen already. That misunderstanding would shape the next chapter of his life and his public advocacy.
From Combat to Conviction to Deportation
Perez’s journey included several life-changing events that illustrate the complex intersection of military service, mental health, criminal law, and immigration policy:
- Two combat tours in Afghanistan; later diagnosed with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury
- Combat-related trauma contributed to drug addiction
- Conviction for cocaine delivery; sentenced to 7½ years
- Green card revoked and deported in 2017, cutting him off from U.S. veterans’ health care and community
- Became a public voice on how service-connected injuries can affect legal outcomes
Path to Return and Naturalization
Perez became a public face for deported veterans, speaking openly about PTSD, moral injury, and the confusing legal path from service member to citizen. Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and several civil rights groups supported his case, calling it a measure of how the country treats those it sent to war.
In August 2019, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a full pardon, clearing a major barrier to Perez’s return. Immigration officials then allowed him to reenter the country for a citizenship hearing in Chicago.
- On October 4, 2019, Perez raised his right hand and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen.
- After the ceremony, he vowed to help other deported veterans and to push for solutions addressing both legal status and access to care.
Why Perez’s Case Matters: Legal and Policy Implications
Perez’s story highlights a persistent problem: some service members do not complete the citizenship process, even when they qualify for expedited paths because of wartime service. He mistakenly believed service made him a citizen automatically — it does not. The United States offers special naturalization paths for military members and certain veterans, but a person must still apply and be approved.
The government provides guidance on these options through the USCIS page on naturalization for service members and veterans, available here: USCIS: Citizenship for Military Members and Veterans.
Advocates note several barriers that can prevent eligible service members from completing naturalization:
- Service-connected injuries (PTSD, traumatic brain injury) can make paperwork, deadlines, and legal steps difficult to manage.
- Missed filings and a subsequent criminal conviction can trigger immigration consequences, including removal.
- “Bad paper” discharges tied to behavior from untreated PTSD may block access to benefits and care.
Perez’s case also showed how a state-level pardon can alter immigration outcomes by removing a criminal-barrier to reentry and naturalization. It underscores the importance of early legal counseling for noncitizen service members so they understand the difference between serving honorably and being a citizen.
Timeline — Key Points
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Two combat tours | Served in Afghanistan; later diagnosed with PTSD and traumatic brain injury |
| — | Drug addiction linked to combat-related trauma |
| — | Convicted for cocaine delivery; 7½-year sentence |
| 2017 | Deported after green card revoked |
| — | Advocacy from Senator Tammy Duckworth and civil rights groups |
| August 2019 | Full pardon by Governor J.B. Pritzker |
| October 4, 2019 | Sworn in as U.S. citizen in Chicago |
| Post-2019 | Public efforts to support other deported veterans |
| 2025 | Died while visiting family in Mexico |
Human Impact and Community Response
Friends and advocates described Perez as a father, a soldier, and a man who spent his final years telling a painful truth: combat injuries can follow veterans home and into the courtroom, often with lifelong consequences. Community voices in Chicago remember him as someone trying to rebuild his life and as a veteran grateful to return home.
“His journey—from battlefield to prison, from deportation to naturalization—continues to influence how lawmakers, veterans’ groups, and immigration officials talk about military service and citizenship.”
Perez’s life demonstrates the cost of delay, the power of advocacy, and the difference a single pardon and a single oath can make. It also reminds policymakers that behind every case file is a person who served, suffered, and hoped to belong.
Policy Questions and Practical Steps
Perez’s experience raises urgent policy and practical questions about how the U.S. treats veterans with service-connected conditions who face criminal charges. Key policy themes include:
- The need for access to treatment for veterans with mental-health and brain injuries
- A clear, workable route to lawful status for immigrants with strong ties to the United States
- Recognition that deportation can compound trauma by severing access to care, family, and community support
- The role of legal counsel from enlistment onward so service members understand naturalization requirements
Practical steps for families and veterans in similar situations:
- Seek legal advice early, especially before any criminal plea.
- Learn military naturalization requirements and apply if eligible.
- Keep detailed records of service, deployments, and medical diagnoses.
- Connect with veterans’ service organizations that understand both immigration and mental health.
- Explore all legal relief with an experienced attorney if facing removal.
Perez’s death closes a difficult chapter but not the broader conversation about immigrant veterans. His message was clear and direct: apply, get legal help, and don’t assume service alone changes your status. His advocacy and story continue to drive discussion among lawmakers, veterans’ groups, and immigration officials about how best to support veterans who were deported after criminal convictions — particularly when those convictions relate to service-connected mental health conditions.
This Article in a Nutshell
Miguel Perez Jr., a U.S. Army veteran who served two combat tours in Afghanistan and later developed PTSD and a traumatic brain injury, was deported to Mexico in 2017 after his green card was revoked following a conviction for cocaine delivery. Mistakenly believing military service granted automatic citizenship, he did not naturalize while serving. Advocacy from Senator Tammy Duckworth and civil-rights groups led Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to grant a full pardon in August 2019, allowing Perez to return and be sworn in as a U.S. citizen on October 4, 2019. Perez became a public advocate for deported veterans before dying in Mexico in 2025 while visiting family. His case highlights gaps in military naturalization, the impact of service-connected injuries on legal outcomes, and the role of legal counsel and state pardons in restoring immigration status.
