KPBS Midday Edition

Gov. Brown’s Pardon Renews Hope For Deported Veteran

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Marissa Cabrera / News Producer, KPBS Midday Edition

Published April 19, 2017 at 8:14 AM PDT

This story was published more than 7 years ago.

Hector Barajas-Varela is pictured in this undated image standing along the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border at Playas de Tijuana.

Gov. Brown’s Pardon Renews Hope For Deported Veteran

Gov. Brown’s Pardon Renews Hope For Deported Veteran GUEST: Hector Barajas-Varela, director and founder, Deported Veterans Support House

As part of his Easter holiday pardons, Gov. Jerry Brown pardoned three deported veterans.

Among them is Hector Barajas-Varela, an U.S. Army veteran who was honorably discharged from the military and now runs a shelter and support group in Tijuana for deported service members.

The pardon doesn't mean Barajas-Varela will automatically be allowed to return to the U.S. But he said it could make the process a little easier.

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“I’m in the process of citizenship, so I believe the pardon is going to help out,” said Barajas-Varela. “It's never been done before so I don’t know if it’s going to take six months to a year. I’m excited. It gives me the opportunity at a second chance to be a better father, a better citizen.”

Barajas-Varela was a legal U.S. resident when he was deported in 2004 after serving time behind bars in connection with a shooting.

There are 239 deported veterans across 34 countries, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Barajas-Varela, director and founder of Deported Veterans Support House, discussed the issues affecting the deported veteran community, Wednesday on Midday Edition.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Marissa Cabrera

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Marissa Cabrera worked as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and had previously served as a Newscast Producer for KPBS' Morning Edition. Before joining KPBS she reported on Vatican affairs, social, and cultural issues in Rome, Italy. She also contributed to a documentary on sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Marissa has worked as a multimedia journalist at various news stations in San Diego and Monterey as well as Columbia, Missouri. Marissa graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.

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