A group of women from all around the world gathered today in San Antonio to share a common concern.
News Radio 1200 WOAI reports their husbands and sons, all veterans of the US Military, have been or are being threatened with deportation, and they think that's unfair.
"When someone has fought for this country we call them a veteran," said Gabriel Velazquez of the Guadalupe Center, which hosted the meeting. "We owe them, and if nothing else, we owe them the right of citizenship."
The stories the women told were similar. After returning from wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, the veterans, many of whom began suffering from PTSD, from the after effects of their military service.
Many developed alcohol and drug problems, and fell afoul of the law. That opened them up to deportation under policies currently in place.
Velzaquez says the U.S. needs to set new parameters where honorably discharged veterans are not facing deportation, and have a pathway to citizenship.
"Most definitely," he said. "Those who have fought for this country, they have earned their right."
Many of the women's husbands and sons are incarcerated in ICE detention pending removal. Some have already been deported.
The veterans organization American GI Forum was at the event to show their support for the veterans.