The fiancée of a decorated US Army veteran, now facing deportation to Jamaica, has issued a powerful plea, arguing that those who served their country deserve the right to stay.
A Veteran's Service and Sudden Detention
Godfrey Wade, a 65-year-old grandfather and US Army veteran, was arrested in September for driving without a licence. Following this, he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He has remained in detention since, caught up in the aggressive immigration enforcement policies of Donald Trump's second presidency.
Wade moved to the United States from Jamaica at the age of 15. He later enlisted in the army, where he earned commendations for his wartime service and good conduct. After his military service, he obtained multiple college degrees and held various jobs, most recently working in a café prior to his detention.
A Policy Shift Endangering Veterans
Wade's situation is not isolated. It reflects a significant increase in non-US citizen military veterans being detained and deported since the Trump administration rescinded a protective ICE directive in January. The Biden administration had previously established protections and an initiative to help return deported veterans and their families.
A congressional investigation launched in September is now demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A letter from June estimated that 10,000 or more veterans have been deported, with a 2022 report noting about 16 million US military veterans were born abroad.
Harsh Conditions and a Family's Fight
Wade is being held at the Stewart detention centre in Lumpkin, Georgia, one of the nation's largest immigration jails, operated by the private prison company CoreCivic. The facility has faced serious allegations of rights abuses and medical neglect, with a series of deaths reported, including a suicide in June—the third in recent years.
His six children describe the traumatic process of trying to visit him. His fiancée, April Watkins, hopes his story spurs legislative action. "If you served this country, you deserve a chance to stay in this country," she stated. The family has turned to GoFundMe to seek financial support for their legal battle against his deportation.
Concerns are growing that more veterans could be targeted. Reports indicate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing an internal report on non-citizens within its workforce, which employs a significant number of veterans. Details from this report may be shared with ICE, potentially exposing thousands to immigration enforcement.
