PHOENIX (AP) — As the 2024 presidential election nears, U.S. Army veteran Sae Joon Park reflects on a stern warning from an immigration officer: If Donald Trump returns to power, he risks deportation.
Park came to the U.S. from Seoul at the age of 7, enlisted in the Army at 19, and earned a Purple Heart for his service. Yet, after battling PTSD and addiction post-service, he faced a deportation order following a drug-related arrest in 2009. His veteran status allowed him to remain in the U.S. under deferred action until a routine immigration check in June revealed a removal order.
Rather than face prolonged detention, Park chose to self-deport to South Korea, feeling betrayed by the system that did not protect him. “They allowed me to join, serve the country—taking bullets for this country. That should mean something,” he lamented.
Trump's first term came with stricter immigration policies targeting noncitizen service members, complicating their paths to citizenship. His campaign promises of mass deportation included no exemptions for veterans, which experts warn threatens military recruitment and national security.
The Biden administration initially reversed some of these policies, declaring military service a significant factor against deportation. However, this protection was recently modified, and many veterans now face the constant threat of deportation for past convictions.
Retired Lt. Col. Margaret Stock criticized the administration’s shift, noting the broader impact of targeting veterans and their families. “It harms military readiness and the national security of our country,” she said. Current figures on the deportation of veterans are scarce, but estimates suggest thousands have faced removal proceedings.
Congress is exploring new legislative measures to safeguard immigrant service members, addressing the legal limbo many now face. The plight of veterans like Park serves as a compelling reminder of the unfulfilled promises to those who have bravely served the nation.
As Park attempts to rebuild his life in a foreign land, he resonates with the many veterans who feel disillusioned by the very country they defended. A petition launched on his behalf has garnered significant public support, yet his chances of returning to the U.S. remain bleak. “This is not the country that I volunteered and fought for,” he said, encapsulating the sorrow of many who served.
