Calif. Governor Grants Pardon to Deported US Veteran

[Judi Lynn]

Calif. Governor Grants Pardon to Deported US Veteran

Hector Barajas, a former U.S. military paratrooper born in Mexico and deported in 2004 for committing a crime, was granted a full pardon Saturday by California Gov. Jerry Brown

By Monica Garske
Published 57 minutes ago | Updated 46 minutes ago





A U.S. military veteran deported to his home country of Mexico 13 years ago after serving time for a conviction received a full pardon Saturday from California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Hector Barajas was born in Mexico’s Zacatecas state and crossed the border illegally into the United States at age 7. After growing up in the U.S., he served in the U.S. Army from 1995 to 2001 in the 82nd Airborne Division, as a paratrooper during Operation Desert Storm.

After an honorable discharge from the Army, Barajas had a difficult time adapting to civilian life. He developed a substance abuse problem. He was in a car when a firearm was discharged and was convicted for the crime of shooting at an inhabited vehicle.

In early July 2002, Barajas was sentenced in the Superior Court of the State of California, in the County of Los Angeles, for the crime. Barajas served just over one year in prison and the same amount of time on parole. He was released on Sept. 2, 2004, after completing his sentence.

More:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california/California-Gov-Jerry-Brown-Pardons-Deported-Veteran-Hector-Barajas-419547173.html#ixzz4eN27V0rc

LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141754402

[Judi Lynn]

1. Jerry Brown pardons three veterans deported to Mexico

APRIL 15, 2017 12:53 PM
BY CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO
AND PETER HECHT
[e-mail]

Gov. Jerry Brown, in a spring tradition timed to coincide with the Easter renewal, extended pardons Saturday to three people who served in the U.S. military but were deported to Mexico after completing sentences for various crimes.

The three cases were part of the 72 pardons and seven commutations Brown issued ahead of Easter, the majority covering old crimes dealing with drugs and other lower-level offenses.

Brown said the former service members were honorably discharged and promised citizenship for their service but nonetheless were deported. One of the men, Hector Barajas Varela, served more than a year in prison after being convicted of shooting at an occupied home or vehicle, and went on to found the Deported Veterans Support House in Tijuana, Mexico, to help deportees adjusting to life there.

Barajas, 40, who came to the United States at 7 years old without authorization, enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school in Southern California. He was honorably discharged after serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and receiving Army humanitarian service and good conduct medals.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article144824909.html#storylink=cpy