{"id":49287,"date":"2019-09-25T01:06:29","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T01:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/25\/deported-army-veteran-returns-to-us-in-bid-to-become-citizen\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:06:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:06:42","slug":"deported-army-veteran-returns-to-us-in-bid-to-become-citizen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/09\/25\/deported-army-veteran-returns-to-us-in-bid-to-become-citizen\/","title":{"rendered":"Deported Army veteran returns to US in bid to become citizen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHICAGO \u2014 An Army veteran who was deported to Mexico in 2018 arrived back in Chicago Tuesday for a final chance at becoming a U.S. citizen and living in the city he has called home since boyhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal immigration authorities granted Miguel Perez Jr. a two-week parole into the U.S. for an immigration hearing, according to his attorney. The 41-year-old Perez has a green card as a permanent U.S. resident, but after serving time for a 2008 non-violent drug conviction was deported last year. Then last month, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a pardon , erasing the conviction and reviving Perez\u2019s chances to become a citizen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m speechless. I wish I could say a lot more but it\u2019s just, I\u2019m choked up,\u201d a teary-eyed Perez said outside a church, hours after landing in Chicago. \u201cI\u2019m so blessed to be here.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His immigration hearing was set for Wednesday, but it\u2019s unknown when immigration officials will decide the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\t