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.
Join Veterans for American Ideals
Leader Spotlight: Erich Almonte
"[Veterans] can show our fellow Americans that even if we disagree, we are all still in this together. And for the time being, in this very divisive moment, this may be the most important American ideal of all: e pluribus unum, out of many, one," writes Erich Almonte, a U.S. Army veteran, Texan, and lawyer.
Read More...Resources
- President Trump's Executive Order on Refugees Harms Our Iraqi Allies
Human Rights First
factsheet | July 18, 2017 | Human Rights FirstRecognizing the importance of protecting Iraqi allies who served alongside the U.S. Military, U.S. agencies, media, and non-governmental organizations....
- Victory for Afghans who Served with American Forces
Human Rights First
report | May 31, 2017 | Human Rights FirstAs veterans, we served with and often depended on interpreters, translators, and other local allies to carry out missions in Afghanistan....
- Trump's Refugee and Immigration Executive Order
Human Rights First
factsheet | January 31, 2017 | Human Rights FirstThe order discriminates against Muslims, imperils refugees, and degrades U.S. national security and global leadership....
- The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program
Human Rights First
factsheet | December 12, 2016 | Human Rights FirstWhat is the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program?...
- National Security Leaders Statement of Principles on America's Commitment to Refugees
Human Rights First
letter | June 23, 2016 | Human Rights FirstSTATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES ON AMERICA’S COMMITMENT TO REFUGEES...
- Remarks by Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines Commemorating World Refugee Day
Human Rights First
transcription | June 15, 2016 | Human Rights FirstAs Prepared for Delivery - Fried Frank LLP, Washington, D.C...
News and Views
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News from the Week of October 9th
Blog | October 13, 2017 |Here's the latest round-up of what we've been reading and watching this week, from the news and around the web:
Despite the Trump Administration’s recent decision to set a historically low refugee admissions goal, VFAI will continue to...
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What Trump’s Refugee Cut Means for Iraqis who Helped the U.S.
Blog | October 13, 2017 |In today’s Wall Street Journal, Yousif al-Jabouri (a pseudonym for a case worker at the International Refugee Assistance Project) shared his story about how the Trump Administration’s travel ban is affecting his family, despite his service as an...
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Leader Spotlight: Erich Almonte
Blog | October 12, 2017 |Veterans for American Ideals is recognizing veteran leaders who are continuing their service by building unity and standing up for American values. Through a series of interviews, we’re asking VFAI leaders to share more about how their...