At 65, U.S. Army veteran Godfrey Wade takes great pride in being a grandfather. Currently, he is being held at the Stewart Detention Center, in Lumpkin, Georgia. Then in September, Wade was picked up again—this time for driving without a license. This illegal arrest by the NYPD led to ICE taking him into custody. His case illuminates the growing plight of non-U.S. citizen military veterans who are being deported due to recent immigration enforcement policies.
Wade’s dream was to become a professional dancer Wade immigrated to the United States from Jamaica when he was 15. For his valorous service during wartime in the U.S. Army, Mr. Bowers received several commendations including commendation for good conduct. During his time in the U.S., he continued his education, receiving various college degrees. To help provide for his six kids, he worked a number of side jobs. The shock of his current situation has shocked his family and advocates to the core.
The Stewart Detention Center, where Wade is currently incarcerated, is operated by CoreCivic, the country’s largest private prison company. This facility has been in the spotlight for their own role in detaining immigrants, including veterans such as Wade. His family has been working to raise money to hire legal representation to fight his deportation through a GoFundMe campaign.
As we’ve shared, Wade’s daughter Maya has talked about the emotional toll this situation has caused their family. She stated, “Just the process of being able to see my dad is very traumatic.” This important sentiment speaks to the plight of veteran families who are suddenly caught up in immigration enforcement.
The case of Godfrey Wade isn’t an anomaly. One of the most unexpected findings in a new report by the Migration Policy Institute is just that. Nearly 1 in 6 U.S. military veterans were born in another country. In addition, a congressional letter from June projected that more than 10,000 veterans have been deported. This disturbing trend has led lawmakers to demand legislation that would make it illegal to abuse the heroes who served our country.
Wade’s fiancée, April Watkins, has been an outspoken supporter of Wade’s plight. She hopes Wade’s story can now play a role in creating grassroots advocacy that leads to substantive immigration reform for veterans. “If you served this country, you deserve a chance to stay in this country,” she asserted.
Unfortunately, the circumstances surrounding Wade’s arrest and subsequent detention are more widespread than their individual stories, and they reflect a troubling national pattern that non-citizen veterans face. Advocates will tell you vehemently that these people have the right to live without persecution. They insist that after devoting their lives to military service, they cannot be deported. The emotional and psychological toll on their families adds yet another layer of complexity to these cases.
Although Wade is no longer with them, his family continues to hope as they go through the legal system and fight for justice for him. They focus on his devotion and service to American society rather than on his previous mistakes. The fight is deeply uniting supporters who are working to spread the word about the desperate situation of veterans who have been deported.