Sae Joon Park, a decorated Army veteran, made a heartbreaking decision to self-deport to South Korea after spending 48 years in the United States.
Under the supervision of ICE agents, Park left his life and family in Hawaii, tearfully bidding farewell to his son, daughter, parents, aunts, and friends at Honolulu airport.
In an emotional interview with Hawaii News Now before his departure, Park expressed the pain of having to leave everything behind.
“This really kills me that I just have to drop everything and leave like this,” he said.
His family reassured him, telling him he would be fine in Korea, but Park’s primary concern was for their well-being.
Having moved to the U.S. from Seoul at the age of 7, Park obtained legal permanent residency with a green card.
At 19, he enlisted in the Army and fought bravely in Panama during the Noriega war in 1989, where he sustained two gunshot wounds and received a Purple Heart for his bravery.
“I got shot in the spine with an AK-47,” he recalled.
Park miraculously survived after his dog tag deflected the bullet that could have paralyzed him.
After being honorably discharged, he returned to Los Angeles, where he first battled severe PTSD.
Then, he turned to marijuana to cope, later becoming addicted to crack cocaine while trying to find a better life in Hawaii in 1995.
“Drugs had a big control throughout my life and that’s what eventually got me into trouble with the law and everything,” he admitted.
In 2009, following his conviction for drug and bail offenses, Park served two and a half years in prison.
Upon release, he was detained by ICE agents who revoked his green card, leading him to a challenging fight against deportation.
As a Purple Heart veteran, he was temporarily allowed to remain in the U.S. under deferred action status, provided he remained sober and checked in annually.
Over the next 14 years, Park turned his life around, becoming a devoted father to his two children now in their 20s while caring for his aging parents and aunts, who are in their 80s.
“These last 14 years have been great, I’m really proud of myself, proud of my kids, how I’ve been acting and how I’ve been living my life,” he reflected.
However, earlier this month, Park received unsettling news that his deferred action status was ending.
He was informed he must leave voluntarily or face detention and forced deportation.
Given an ankle monitor and a mere three weeks to arrange his affairs, Park and his family were left in shock.
“People were saying, ‘You took two bullets for this country. Like you’re more American than most of the Americans living in America,’” Park noted.
He expressed his anguish at the thought of missing significant milestones in his family’s life.
“Let’s say [my daughter] gets married, I won’t be there.
Let’s say my parents pass away, I won’t be there.
There are so many things that I’ll be missing, and it’s heartbreaking,” he lamented.
Danicole Ramos, Park’s attorney, emphasized that Park embodies what it means to be an American, despite not having citizenship status.
“In every sense of him, he is an American but by paper,” Ramos said.
She believes that current immigration policies provoke essential conversations about patriotism and belonging, especially concerning veterans.
Ramos highlighted that many service members like Park, non-citizens, have fought for the U.S., often without understanding the citizenship path available to them.
“Mr. Park is a victim of this poor system, where we’re not supporting our veterans,” she added.
Advocacy for a path toward citizenship for veterans like Park is critical, as many are facing deportations due to non-violent offenses.
Ramos urged Congress to consider legislation that can support veterans, allowing individuals like Park a chance to rectify past mistakes and recognize their service to the country.
Park acknowledges his past, taking responsibility for his actions, yet believes his military service should weigh heavily in his favor.
“I get it. I broke the law and everything, but I think this is a little severe what they’re doing to me,” he remarked.
Feeling he has paid his dues, Park expressed his frustration at the injustice he faces after trying to contribute positively to society.
He now must leave the only home he’s known, heading to a country he hasn’t visited in 30 years.
“I’ll have to relearn everything,” he said, reflecting on his uncertain future.
HNN reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for comments on this situation and is awaiting their response.
image source from：hawaiinewsnow
