Iraq war veteran faces deportation

An Iraq war veteran who grew up in the United States says the country he fought for now wants to send him back to Mexico.

He went to war a soldier but somehow returned as an illegal immigrant.

But the soldier says he is not going down without a fight.

By all accounts, Orlando Castaneda is an American hero.

He says "I loved the GI Joes i just wanted to be a GI Joe."

He spent 12 months in Iraq fighting for our country but then, just a few months after returning home, Castaneda received this deportation letter.

His wife, Annette, says "it's frustrating, it's frustrating when you see somebody give so much and get nothing in return."

His parents brought him to the United States from Mexico illegally when Orlando was just three years old.

He filled out all the required paperwork and was even told his military service would put his application for citizenship on the fast track.

But somewhere along the line, immigration officials speculate there was a mixup or burp in the system leaving him and his American family in a state of limbo.

Orlando says "I believe I am an American I don't just say you know I'm an American. I believe it in my heart."

Annette says "he went and he did what most Americans aren't willing to do, he went and fought for this country."

Orlando says "I'm about to maybe lose my home, where I can't buy food or cant pay my utilities because of a piece of paper that says I'm not an American."