VA to Compile List of Non-Citizen Employees, Veterans in Move Critics Call a “Dragnet”
The Department of Veterans Affairs is directing offices nationwide to identify non-U.S. citizens, raising fears of increased immigration enforcement and potential harm to veterans who have served the country.
The scenario is chillingly simple: a veteran,having honorably served the United States,seeks routine medical care at a VA facility only to be met by immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This isn’t a dystopian fantasy,but a growing reality as the VA implements a controversial new policy requiring the compilation of a extensive list of all non-citizens affiliated with the department – including employees,contractors,and,crucially,veterans themselves.
The directive,issued internally on October 26th,states that the details collected will be used to “ensure compliance with federal workforce standards” and that any discrepancies “will be dealt with accordingly.”
In the current political climate, that phrase carries a stark warning: ICE. The administration has already begun deporting veterans and even military spouses directly from U.S. bases, and this directive signals a significant escalation of immigration enforcement within the VA system.
The Guardian reported that the VA is actively building a database of non-citizens, confirming that the data will be shared with other agencies for immigration enforcement purposes. While a VA press secretary, Pete Kasperowicz, denied the creation of a dedicated “database” in a statement to Rolling Stone, he acknowledged the department’s obligation to continuously vet personnel to meet federal “trusted workforce standards,” justifying the directive to identify non-citizens.
critics argue this policy is a dangerous overreach disguised as routine security protocol. the federal “trusted workforce” program does not mandate list-making based on citizenship status, nor does it address immigration status at all. instead, one analyst stated, this initiative appears to be a “dragnet” aimed at identifying and potentially targeting non-citizens connected to the VA.
The potential impact is notably acute for veterans.More than 100,000 military veterans currently lack U.S. citizenship, with thousands more holding lawful permanent resident status. The VA employs approximately 450,000 people,with over a quarter being veterans,according to the Pew Research Center. This figure doesn’t include the numerous contractors and affiliated workers, manny of whom are also veterans.
These men and women have served in conflicts spanning decades – from Iraq and Afghanistan to Vietnam and Panama – demonstrating unwavering commitment to a nation that may now turn its back on them. The record of ICE actions under the current administration offers a grim preview of how these veterans may be treated.
Recent cases illustrate the harsh reality. Julio Torres, a Marine corps veteran who served in Iraq, was detained by ICE at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport upon returning from a family visit in Mexico earlier this year. ICE also attempted to deport Army veteran Jose Barco, a Purple Heart recipient wounded by an IED, after he completed a sentence for a crime stemming from untreated trauma (Venezuela ultimately refused to accept him). Sae Joon Park, a 61-year-old veteran who had lived in the U.S. since childhood, was forced to self-deport this year after receiving a threat of detention from ICE. Just three months ago in Georgia, veteran Godfrey Wade was apprehended during a routine traffic stop for a minor infraction; his family remains unaware of his current whereabouts. “He wasn’t born in this country, and still, he loves this country enough that he signed up to serve it,” his fiance told a local CBS affiliate. “Fifty years later, when he needs this country, this country is turning its back on him.”
Imagine the consequences of ICE receiving a VA-verified list of every green card holder, asylum seeker, and legal resident veteran affiliated with the department. Every foreign medical resident, every immigrant nurse, every non-citizen researcher dedicated to treating PTSD, cancer, and traumatic brain injury. Every immigrant working in a VA hospital kitchen, grateful for the prospect to contribute. The resulting climate of fear, resignations, staffing shortages, appointment delays, and ultimately, diminished care, is a chilling prospect.
As public institutions increasingly exhibit authoritarian tendencies, any veteran or non-veteran proudly proclaiming “I voted for this!” should pause and consider a critical question: Who will stand up for me when it’s my turn?
