Jose Barco, a U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat, was deported to Mexico by U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Barco, who was born in Venezuela to parents who fled Cuba, enlisted in the Army at 17 and was injured by shrapnel during a deployment, earning him the Purple Heart and a Combat Infantry Badge.
His citizenship application was reportedly lost in processing during his military service. Barco was released from prison in January after serving 15 years for a felony conviction of attempted murder, stemming from a 2009 incident where he fired a gun at a house party, injuring a woman, while reportedly suffering from PTSD.
Upon his release on parole, ICE detained him and placed him in an immigration detention center. In September, an immigration judge denied his appeals for relief, including an asylum application, and ordered his removal from the United States.
On Friday morning, Barco was deported from Arizona to Nogales, Mexico. His defense team and family were not notified of the deportation plans or his specific whereabouts, causing significant distress and uncertainty for them.
ICE confirmed his deportation to Mexico, a country where he has no ties.
