Deported U.S. Army Veteran Sent to South Korea After 48 Years in America

A US Army Purple Heart medal. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

A U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient has been deported to South Korea after living in the United States for nearly five decades, a move he attributes to strict immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

Sae Joon Park, 55, departed from Honolulu, Hawaii, earlier this week, leaving behind his family, including two children and an elderly mother with dementia. Park, who held legal permanent residency, served honorably in the U.S. Army and was wounded in combat during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989, earning him the Purple Heart.

Earlier this month, immigration authorities gave Sae Joon Park an ultimatum: leave voluntarily or face detention and deportation

Park was brought to the U.S. from South Korea at age seven and later enlisted in the military after graduating high school. However, after returning from Panama, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and became addicted to crack cocaine. In 2009, he was arrested in New York while attempting to purchase drugs and later served time in prison. He admitted to missing a court hearing during that period because he feared failing a mandatory drug test.

That missed court appearance ultimately blocked his ability to naturalize as a U.S. citizen—an opportunity typically available to foreign-born veterans who serve honorably. A judge issued a removal order, but Park was allowed to remain in the U.S. under supervision, checking in annually with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During this time, he resettled in Hawaii and built a life, raising his children and caring for his aging mother.

In early June, ICE notified Park that he would face immediate detention and deportation unless he agreed to leave voluntarily. Facing few options, Park opted to leave the country on his own terms, though he acknowledged the devastating emotional toll.

Park was shot twice in Panama. He said he survived thanks to two miracles. The first was that an American veteran lived a few doors down and was able rush him to the hospital. The second was that one of the bullets struck Park's dog tag, absorbing some of the impact.

“I won’t be there for a funeral, like my daughter getting married,” Park said tearfully before boarding his flight. “I really can’t believe this is happening in America—a country I fought for.”

At the airport, Park reflected on his mother’s worsening condition and the uncertainty of ever seeing his family again. “She kind of doesn’t know really what’s going on,” he said, describing his final moments with her.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson later confirmed Park’s deportation, stating that his criminal record included convictions for drug possession, weapons-related charges, and assault. “His prior, adjudicated removal order deprived him of the legal basis to remain in the U.S.,” the official said. “If you come to our country and break our laws, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you. That’s a promise.”

Park (L) and his son (R) during a trip to Kauai, Hawaii.

Despite acknowledging his past mistakes, Park insists his deportation was unjust, especially given his military service and the progress he made in rebuilding his life. “I was in disbelief until the last minute,” Park said. “But reality is hitting real hard. And I really can’t believe this is happening.”