Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart Army veteran, departs the U.S. for South Korea after nearly 50 years, claiming he was targeted by the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The 55-year-old, who immigrated from South Korea at age seven, struggled with post-traumatic stress and addiction after serving in the military, which ultimately led to his deportation following legal troubles.
Park’s situation underscores the hardships noncitizen veterans face when entangled in legal issues despite their service. He reflects on the gravity of leaving a country he fought for, acknowledging the emotional toll of saying goodbye to his children and aging mother, who is battling dementia. “I won’t be there for a funeral, like my daughter getting married,” he expressed, highlighting the deeply personal consequences of a legal system grappling with immigration enforcement.
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