Army veteran who faces deportation denied US citizenship
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An Army veteran with a green card who faces deportation because of a 2008 drug conviction has been denied U.S. citizenship.
The decision Thursday by immigration officials means Miguel Perez Jr. can be deported to Mexico at any time.
The 39-year-old Perez petitioned immigration officials to be granted citizenship retroactive to when he joined the military in 2001.
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Perez served two tours in Afghanistan. He says he mistakenly thought he became a U.S. citizen when he took an oath to protect the nation.
Perez was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after he served half of a 15-year prison sentence for a nonviolent drug charge. He is being held in a Wisconsin detention center where he awaits deportation.