PHOENIX — For Dr. Louis Olivas, the Veterans Administration, the economy and education are his top three issues for the upcoming presidential election.
The professor emeritus at Arizona State University and a retired colonel in the Arizona National Guard is one of many Latino veterans in Arizona, and the issues he cares about are many of the issues headed to the ballot box in November.
According to the University of Arizona's Economic and Business Research Center, Latino veterans make up more than 12% of veterans in the state, which is almost double the overall percentage in the United States.
Olivas said although he's never served in combat, he's seen the need for resources through immediate family members and other fellow veterans who have served all the way back to the Korean War.
"You see as they come back with PTSD and programs that we need to assist them as they transition to civilians," Olivas said. "[Y]ou see the financial needs that they have and how they can be assisted, also with training programs."
Olivas said that although he thinks the VA does "provide quality care [and] quality program" there's an expanding need for more doctors, more administrators and more staff to assist more veterans.
Olivas also mentioned the economy is a top priority for Latino veterans.
"How can we move this economy forward so things become more affordable," Olivas said. "There are more business opportunities, there are more systems to work through."
Olivas said the third most important issue was education, emphasizing the need to get more students, through undergraduate programs, community colleges, tech schools and universities.
"The veterans in our community are the best-kept secret," Olivas said. "We have different sets of education and completions, but we also have skill sets to be electricians, to be masonry workers, carpenters, pipefitters, whatever building trade you can imagine."
Selina Cardenas-Lemley, a former marine, and a member of Common Defense, said a major topic of interest for veterans, particularly her Latino Veterans caucus is bringing back veterans who have been deported.
"[They] served side by side next to us and put their time in for the country," Gardenas-Lemley said. "[Some] were denied citizenship and they were deported or they came back and committed a minor infraction and were deported."
Cardenas-Lemley said there was a lack of adequate healthcare particularly for women and for Latino veterans.
"So many Latinos are genetically predisposed to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Cardenas -Lemley said "The VA isn't adequately prepared to handle a lot of these issues, post time and service."
Cardenas-Lemley also mentioned the need for more resources to help Latino veterans transition into civilian life.
"A lot of us that do serve were first and second-gen from parents that came across the border here, Cardenas-Lemley said. "Dealing with that when we leave the military, there's not a lot for us here. We have to work extra hard because we don't have the monetary means."
Domingo Bonilla, a veteran and past Arizona Department Commander for the American Legion, said border security is a top issue among Latino Voters.
"We fought for this country, and we do care about Latinos coming to our country, but the right way, with paperwork, not just jumping the fence and overtaking our country," Bonilla said. "We need security in this on this country of ours, especially Arizona, Texas, too, because as veterans, we did fight for their country."
Bonilla said that for him and other veterans, border issues cause job concerns.
"Even the Latino Americans, they're losing their jobs because there's a lot of Latinos coming from Mexico, taking their jobs away. Is there a concern? Yes." said Bonilla.
All three Latino veterans said they encourage other Latino veterans go to out and vote based on the issues they feel are important.
"[Veterans] have served under different presidents, seen the outcome of what every president, what every administration brings to this country, to our community and to the population, regardless of industry, regardless of business," Olivas said. "It's extremely important that we as veterans understand the issues, the propositions that come up in the state, so that we vote for what we think is best for us as a combined community."
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