Deportation of non-citizen military veterans: A critical analysis of implications for the right to health

Abstract

Military personnel are commonly exposed to health-harming conditions during their service, resulting in higher rates of physical and mental health conditions compared with the general population. In an era of mass deportations, it is notable that non-citizen military veterans are not exempt from deportation. We utilised a human rights framework to conduct a critical analysis of potential health consequences of deportation for U.S. military veterans, identifying three ways in which veterans' rights to health may be constrained through deportation. First, honourably discharged deported veterans may be denied access to free or subsidised Veterans Affairs health services to which they would likely otherwise be entitled. Second, availability of and access to healthcare may be limited for reasons including barriers to enrolling in public insurance schemes, challenges navigating unfamiliar health systems and stigma and discrimination towards deported migrants. Finally, quality of available care may be sub-optimal due to limited expertise in service-related health issues and lack of evidence-based treatment for some health conditions (e.g. substance abuse/dependence). Binational multi-sectoral efforts are necessary to ensure that the rights to health of deported military veterans are adequately protected.

Social determinants of health among noncitizen deported US veterans: A participatory action study

“…The transition from the military to the civilian world is abrupt and veterans often struggle to assimilate to civilian life post-discharge [ 2 , 7 – 10 ]. Compared to civilian citizens, veterans experience poorer physical and mental health, which may contribute to increased difficulty maintaining employment, homelessness, strained interpersonal relationships, substance use, and legal trouble [ 9 , 10 ].…”

“…Noncitizen deported US military veterans comprise a vulnerable and often unrecognized health disparity population. Latinx of Mexican and Central American origin are overrepresented in this deported veteran population [ 2 , 3 , 12 ], and over 80% of deported veterans report medical issues and approximately 75% lack access to healthcare after deportation [ 3 ].…”

“…A common misnomer in American society is that service in the United States military guarantees a fast track to citizenship for noncitizen servicemembers. While military service provides a pathway to citizenship, it does not guarantee automatic citizenship nor does it guard against deportation [1][2][3]. Since World War I, US Congress has provided a pathway for noncitizen servicemembers serving honorably in the US military during wartime [4] and most recently in peacetime [5].…”

“…Compared to civilian citizens, veterans experience poorer physical and mental health, which may contribute to increased difficulty maintaining employment, homelessness, strained interpersonal relationships, substance use, and legal trouble [9,10]. Many cope with lingering effects of combat-related violence and trauma, placing them at risk for unhealthy and even unlawful behaviors as well as incarceration [1][2][3].…”