Current and former U.S. military members enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will be protected from deportation, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday, unless they are under court order or have a felony conviction.
Mattis said that anyone on active duty, active reserves, with an honorable discharge, or waiting to go to boot camp under the Pentagon’s Delayed Entry Program will not be subject to any kind of deportation.
He told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday that he has discussed the situation of U.S. troops who came to the country illegally and who are subject to DACA “in great detail” with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and he has been assured they will not be deported when the program expires next month.
Mattis said the exceptions would be if they have committed a felony, or are subject to a judge’s final order of deportation.
“Our guys on active duty, or the active delayed enlistment program are not in any jeopardy,” Mattis said.
The Pentagon estimates that about 900 troops fall under the DACA protections.
Mattis insisted there was never any consideration of booting people out of the military who had signed up to serve their country.
“It has always been the case. We would always stand by one of our people,” Mattis said.
