Law School Clinic Brings Deported Army Vet Home

Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register, Sept. 20, 2018 - "Wearing his black Army uniform and maroon beret, Fabian Rebolledo stood tall Wednesday on the lawn of his family’s Azusa home, happy to be back on American soil for the first time in six years.  Rebolledo has been away fighting a battle. Only this time, instead of defending the United States, the 43-year-old veteran has been fighting against the immigration system that deported him in 2012.  With help from UC Irvine Law’s Immigrant Rights Clinic and other advocacy groups, Rebolledo won that battle. He got to reunite with his parents, siblings and 18-year-old son who were waiting Wednesday morning just across the border in the San Ysidro.  But Rebolledo said he’s not done fighting. Along with rebuilding his own life, he’s determined to help other deported veterans who served their country get back home."

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 19, 2018 - "Eight years after immigration officials detained Fabian Rebolledo in his Baldwin Park home and deported him to Tijuana, the U.S. Army veteran has returned home.  Rebolledo crossed the border at San Ysidro on Wednesday morning, proudly wearing his Army uniform. It was the culmination of a years-long battle by the UC Irvine Immigrant Rights Clinic, which was able to reopen the case in December and regain his green-card status in August."