We raised our right hands and pledged to support and defend the Constitution. That commitment does not stop.

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About

Veterans for American Ideals is a nonpartisan group of veterans who share the belief that America is strongest when its policies and actions match its ideals.

We dedicated our lives to our country as citizen-soldiers, and we believe that honor, courage, commitment, duty, and country are not just words, but values worth defending. After taking off the uniform, we seek to continue serving our country by advocating for policies that are consistent with the ideals that motivated us to serve in the first place. Our current campaigns are focused on saving the Special Immigrant Visa program for interpreters and translators who served with the U.S. military, protecting refugees, and countering Islamophobia.

#WhatIFoughtFor

Most Americans have never met a refugee, much less had a personal connection with one. But many veterans' lives are intertwined with those of refugees in profound and deeply personal ways. These are some of their stories.

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Leader Spotlight: Sean Horgan

1.     Tell me about your military service. (What branch? When and where did you serve? Why did you join the military?)

I joined the Marines a month after I received a green card—I had just moved to the United States from Ireland. I really wanted to give back to my adopted country and I couldn’t think of a better way to serve than by becoming a Marine.

2.     How did your service shape the person you are today?

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Resources

Veteran Coalition Letter to Members of Congress in Support of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program
Human Rights First
Letter | September 19, 2018
September 19, 2018   Dear Members of Congress, We represent more than two hundred thousand veterans from every branch of the United States military and every American conflict since Vietnam.
How the Trump Administration's Executive Orders on Refugees Harm Our Iraqi Wartime Allies
Human Rights First
Factsheet | September 19, 2018
U.S.-Affiliated Iraqis and the Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program
The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program
Human Rights First
Factsheet | September 19, 2018
The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program 2009-2018  What is the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program?  Download
Bipartisan Support for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program
Human Rights First
Factsheet | October 13, 2017
Bipartisan Support for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program
President Trump's Executive Order on Refugees Harms Our Iraqi Allies
Human Rights First
Factsheet | July 18, 2017
Download PDF
Victory for Afghans who served with American Forces
Human Rights First
Report | May 31, 2017
Brothers and Sisters in Arms As veterans, we served with and often depended on interpreters, translators, and other local allies to carry out missions in Afghanistan. Many of these individuals’ lives are now in danger as a result of their service. 

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News and Views

 

  • News from the Week of December 9th
    Blog | December 14, 2018 |

    The White House will deport certain protected Vietnamese immigrants who have lived in the United States for decades—many of them having fled the country during the Vietnam War. The Atlantic reports: “The...
  • Leader Spotlight: Sean Horgan
    Blog | December 12, 2018 |

    1.     Tell me about your military service. (What branch? When and where did you serve? Why did you join the military?)

    I joined the Marines a month after I received a green card—I had just moved to the United States from Ireland. I...
  • News from the week of December 2, 2018
    Blog | December 10, 2018 |

    Nearly a dozen permanent U.S. residents were deported back to their birth-country of Vietnam over the past year under a tough new immigration policy from the Trump Administration. Most of the group came to the...
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