SSA Benefits
The deportation of a non-citizen veteran may result in non-payment of Special Veterans Benefits. Suspension of benefits begins the month after the month that the SSA receives notice of non-citizen veteran’s removal or deportation from the Secretary of Homeland Security, DHS, the Attorney General, or the DOJ. Once the non-citizen veteran is subject to non-payment of benefits following their removal, payments cannot be reinstated until and unless they are granted lawful admission for permanent residence in the United States. Dependent or survivor benefits on a removed non-citizen veteran’s record cannot be paid for any month in which:
- Benefits are or would have been suspended; and
- The dependent or survivor is a non-US citizen; and
- The dependent or survivor was outside the United States at any time during the month, even if the absence was only for part of a day.
See, generally, secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302635001.
VA Benefits
The removal of a non-citizen veteran should generally not affect his or her VA Benefits, but it will require compliance with additional procedures. The VA should treat the veteran just as it treats other veterans who are living abroad. See, generally, benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-abroad.asp.
The Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative
In 2021, the DHS and the VA began a collaboration called the Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative (IMMVI) to assist veterans and their families with the return of and access to benefits for non-citizen veterans and their immediate family members. The online portal to access the benefits of this program and review resources provided by this initiative can be found at: dhs.gov/immvets