audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - The federal government's failure to help naturalize immigrants serving in the U.S. military has led to the deportation of untold numbers of veterans, all of whom were entitled to become citizens because of their service, according to a report released by the ACLU of California. Three veterans who were deported to Mexico because of the crimes they committed could be allowed to return to the U.S. after California Governor Jerry Brown pardoned them. One is Hector Barajas, who came to the U.S. when he was 7 years old, and was a legal resident who joined the U.S. Army, serving from 1995 to 2001. After his military discharge, Barajas was arrested and pleaded guilty to illegally firing a gun into a vehicle. U.S. Immigration ordered Barajas be deported in 2004. He then came back across the border illegally, and was caught and sent back to Mexico. Barajas now runs a shelter for deported veterans in Tijuana known as ''the bunker.'' Brown's pardon for Barajas-Varela and two othes is the first time a governor has taken this type action for deported veterans. It does not guarantee they will be able to come back to the United States, but Barajas hopes it will help with their appeals to U.S. federal immigration. These are not isolated cases the worldwide community of deported veterans, includes at least 239 people in 34 countries, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

March 18, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - HECTOR BARAJAS, 40, a veteran of the U.S. 82nd Airborne, keeps an eye out for guests as he dons his uniform Saturday at the Bunker before the start of an event. A gathering of about 20 veterans living in Tijuana who fought for branches of the U.S. military and were deported after being discharged from service, welcomed supporters Saturday at their ''bunker'' outpost.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

March 18, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - HECTOR BARAJAS, 40, a veteran of the U.S. 82nd Airborne, buttons the last buttons on his uniform Saturday at the Bunker before the start of an event. A gathering of about 20 veterans living in Tijuana who fought for branches of the U.S. military and were deported after being discharged from service, welcomed supporters Saturday at their ''bunker'' outpost.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

March 18, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - RON THOMAS of Las Vegas, Nevada, left, a veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces, hugs HECTOR BARAJAS, a deported veteran who lives in Tijuana, before heading back to the U.S. Thomas came all the way to Tijuana to deliver an electric wheelchair, to be given to a needy veteran.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

March 18, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - HECTOR BARAJAS, 40, a veteran of the U.S. 82nd Airborne, shines the medals on his uniform Saturday at the Bunker in Tijuana before the start of an event.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

March 18, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - HECTOR BARAJAS, 40, a veteran of the U.S. 82nd Airborne, cleans the lint from his dress uniform pants before donning his uniform Saturday at the Bunker before the start of an event.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

April 16, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - U.S. Marine Corps veteran MARCO CHAVEZ, left, gets emotional as HECTOR BARAJAS, a U.S. Army Airborne veteran, presents him with a certificate from California Governor Jerry Brown, pardoning him for a crime committed in the U.S, after which he was deported 14 years ago.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

April 16, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - On Easter Sunday, deported US Army Airborne veteran HECTOR BARAJAS, center, laid hands on the border wall with friends gathered for an Easter mass in Friendship Park, jointly celebrated on the U.S. and Mexico sides of the border wall. Barajas shared the news of his pardon by California Governor Brown with other deported veterans, deported mothers and friends and family on the Tijuana side of Friendship Park near the beach. On the north side of the fence, Border Patrol agents opened the gates to allow a gathering for an Easter mass.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

April 16, 2017 - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico - On Easter Sunday, deported US Army Airborne veteran HECTOR BARAJAS is congratulated as he shared the news of his pardon by the California Governor with other deported veterans, deported mothers and friends and family in Tijuana's side of Friendship Park near the beach. On the north side of the fence, Border Patrol agents opened the gates to allow a gathering for an Easter mass, shared by those in Tijuana.
© Peggy Peattie/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire