Deported Army veteran making his way back to Chicago ahead of citizenship hearing

A deported Army veteran is making his way back to Chicago after being granted temporary entry into the country so he may attend a citizenship hearing Wednesday.

Miguel Perez-Montes was at the U.S.-Mexico border Monday afternoon and was expected to arrive in Chicago Tuesday morning. His temporary status comes weeks after Gov. J.B. Pritzker granted Perez-Montes clemency for a nonviolent drug conviction.

Perez-Montes immigrated to the United States lawfully as a child in 1989 and served two tours in Afghanistan in the early 2000s. Family and supporters say he suffered a serious brain injury and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Perez-Montes served 7¹⁄₂ years in prison after being convicted of delivering cocaine in 2008.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection granted Perez-Montes 14 days to be in the country to see if he is granted citizenship. If it takes longer than that, he may be sent back to Mexico.

“We hope he is granted citizenship immediately, but it’s unclear if it’s going to take longer to grant the citizenship he deserves,” said Sara Walker, an associate pastor at Lincoln United Methodist Church.

Perez-Montes and his family planned to speak at noon Tuesday at Lincoln United Methodist Church, 2009 W. 22nd Place.

Manny Ramos is a corps member of Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of Chicago’s South Side and West Side.