Who Is Marco Chavez? Deported Ex-Marine To Return To U.S. Before Christmas

Marco Chavez, a former United States Marine deported in 2002 over a minor offense, will now be able to return to the country he first called home, according to the Associated Press Tuesday. Chavez’s legal residency status was returned after he was pardoned earlier this year.

“One of the things I wanted to let my kids know is they did have a father and I did not plan to leave them,” Chavez who has been living in Tijuana told the AP. “That wasn’t part of the plan with me and my ex-wife. I just want to be there to support them. They still might have resentment, but that’s understandable.”

Chavez has three sons and two grandchildren who live in Iowa.

Chavez, 45, was born in Mexico and brought to the United States as an infant. He served four years in the Marines in the 1990’s as a lawful permanent resident and was honorably discharged. Chavez was convicted of an animal cruelty charge in 1998 for beating a dog, though Chavez said another person was responsible for the incident. Chavez was sentenced to two years in prison, but was released early for good behavior. After serving a probationary period, Chavez was deported to Mexico.

Chavez’s wife and sons initially moved to Tijuana to be with him, but the couple eventually divorced — life in the Mexican border town proved to be too tough.

“Life is possible in Mexico, but it’s not comfortable,” Chavez told the AP. “Now I understand why everybody tries to cross by any means possible.”

Chavez found work as a security guard and had to learn Spanish. He last saw his sons in 2013.

“Fifteen years ago my life was upended when I was deported to Mexico, a country I left as an infant. I missed the childhood of my three children and I have two grandchildren now I've not met. With the restoration of my legal status, I feel like I’ve been given my life back,” said Chavez in a press release.

Earlier this year California Gov. Jerry Brown pardoned Chavez and two other veterans, clearing the way for them to return and have their permanent residency status restored.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) along with other rights groups formed the Honorably Discharged, Dishonorably Deported Coalition to help veterans who have been deported come home.

“No one who was willing to die for this country should be deported. In a time when the immigration debate in America seems so dark, Marco Chavez's historic legal victory and return home is a ray of light and hope,” said Nathan Fletcher, chair of the Coalition in a statement.

The ACLU said that Chavez will return to the U.S. before Christmas.

There are estimated to be more than 230 veterans deported to other countries, according to NBC News.