Exiled

Mauricio Hernandez-Mata and Hector Barajas-Varela, the Mexican-born subjects of filmmaker Mike Seely’s documentary, fought for America in Afghanistan, but now live in Tijuana after being deported. Both men had green cards. Mauricio lives with his wife and child, but Hector had to leave his family behind. When the Army recruiter signed Hector up, his parents were told that he would become a citizen as a result of his service. Both men came to the U.S. when they were seven years old. "America is my home," Mauricio states, but he was deported due to possession of a firearm and a controlled substance, even though he served his time. Mauricio suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and hasn’t been able to receive proper care. Hector, who was a paratrooper, was deported after serving two years for possession (and one in detention). He manages the Deported Veterans Support House, where he works on securing healthcare from the Veteran’s Administration for his clients and helping to enact legislation that will allow them to return home. During the course of the documentary, Mauricio joins forces with Hector. "Currently," Hector says, "the only way we can return to our country is in a box." In other words, he can’t visit America, but he can be buried there. Hector proceeds to meet with members of the ACLU and the U.S. House of Representatives and even presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, but they are powerless in the face of current U.S. immigration policy. Although Seely’s film focuses on only two men, it’s clear that they represent hundreds of others in the same predicament. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)