A veterans’ group is actively fighting for the rights of Marlon Parris, an Iraq War veteran who was unjustly deported. Michael Chappell, a U.S. Navy veteran from Tucson, also stands in solidarity with Parris, believing that the government has targeted him unfairly. Chappell expressed his disappointment, stating, “When you return home from serving your country, you expect to be taken care of by your government. This situation is the complete opposite of that.”
Parris, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, arrived in the U.S. in 1997 as the son of a naturalized citizen. He enlisted in the Army in 2001 and served for six years, including multiple deployments to Iraq. After his discharge in 2007, he was diagnosed with PTSD and brain trauma, attributed to his time spent in armored tanks, as confirmed by medical professionals at the Veterans Affairs. His wife revealed that he also suffers from brain hemorrhages and high blood pressure.
During the incident of his detention, Parris managed to contact his wife, who rushed to the scene only to find him already in custody. Perplexed by the situation, she inquired about the reason for his detainment and was simply told, “He’s on a list. We have orders, and he’s on a list.”
There are fears that Parris has become a victim of the heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, particularly targeting individuals with criminal convictions. Despite serving a five-year sentence for a nonviolent felony drug offense in 2011, ICE agents had assured Parris, upon his release in 2016, that he would not face deportation due to his military service and the nature of his crime. They even provided him with a letter to that effect, advising him to carry it at all times.
However, in a sudden turn of events, Parris was detained by ICE agents while seeking the return of his confiscated green card in consultation with an immigration attorney. He now faces an immigration court hearing scheduled for February 27.
Advocacy efforts led by organizations like Common Defense have begun to gain momentum in demanding Parris’s release and seeking support from political leaders. Their aim is to ensure that all veterans are treated with fairness and respect for their service.
There are concerns that Parris’s plight may be just the tip of the iceberg, with other veterans potentially facing similar challenges. This uncertainty has raised questions about the timing of Parris’s arrest, coming just two days after Trump assumed office. His wife wonders why this occurred, especially when they were actively addressing the green card issue and ensuring all documentation was up to date.
Hartwell-Parris emphasized the need for justice, stating, “This is not the values our country should uphold. Marlon is here legally, and this is where he belongs.”
