More than 60 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Department, and the Veterans Affairs Department expressing concerns about immigration enforcement actions affecting military families. The Democrats said they will investigate whether the Pentagon and DHS are coordinating efforts related to deportations of service members and their relatives.
According to reporting by The Associated Press, more than 50 active-duty troops’ spouses and parents have been detained by immigration authorities. The lawmakers characterized these efforts as raising ethical and legal concerns and potentially imperiling military readiness and weakening service members’ morale. They pressed the administration on why military recruiters continue promoting immigration protections while families face deportation.
The Trump administration has stated that U.S. military service alone does not automatically grant lawful immigration status or exempt individuals from immigration law consequences. The Defense Department declined to comment beyond saying it would reply directly to the letter authors. The administration separately announced the establishment of a Military Spouse Commission, with the Defense Secretary’s wife as chair, to develop policies benefiting military spouses.
Lawmakers leading the investigation include Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, along with several House Democrats. They urged the administration to restore policies that previously protected military service members’ families from immigration enforcement. Republican committee chairs did not respond to requests for comment.
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