A Democrat congressman’s attempt to trap Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with the story of an illegal alien veteran drew national attention—but new details clarified the situation.
During a Thursday House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) questioned Noem about U.S. military veterans who had been deported, aiming to frame the discussion as an example of Trump-era policy failures.
Magaziner introduced 55-year-old Sae Joon Park, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the invasion of Panama and received a Purple Heart.
“He struggled with PTSD, he was arrested in the 1990s for some minor drug offenses. He never hurt anyone besides himself,” Magaziner said.
Park had recently returned to South Korea, which he left as a child, with Magaziner presenting the move as a consequence of federal enforcement under President Trump.
Noem acknowledged Park’s military service while stressing the importance of adhering to U.S. law.
“We have to enforce the laws of this country,” she said, emphasizing that individual circumstances do not change legal obligations.
Subsequent reporting clarified that Park’s departure was voluntary, something that Magaziner failed to mention.
NPR reported back in June that Park self-deported after receiving a final removal order stemming from past offenses, including drug possession and failure to appear in court over 15 years ago.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed that Park left on his own accord and was not forcibly removed by any federal agency.
Park’s legal history includes a period of incarceration beginning in 2009.
After his release, he lived in Hawaii, raising his children and maintaining employment while complying with annual immigration check-ins. Despite the final removal order, DHS permitted voluntary departure.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin explained, “With no legal basis to remain in the U.S. and a final order of removal, Park was allowed to self-deport to Korea.”
Park described leaving as difficult but necessary.
Reflecting on his military service, he said, “Even after everything I went through, I don’t regret joining the military or getting shot. It’s part of my life, my journey. It’s made me who I am today.”
NPR at the time highlighted that Park’s remarks highlighted the personal toll of navigating immigration law while honoring service to the country.
The case illustrates the tension between political narratives and legal realities.
Magaziner framed Park’s departure as a direct result of Trump-era policies, while Noem emphasized that immigration enforcement follows legal requirements, not partisan agendas.
The situation demonstrates how political framing can sometimes obscure the underlying legal facts.
Cases like Park’s highlight the challenges noncitizen veterans and long-term residents with criminal histories face. While service and sacrifice are acknowledged, federal law governs removal procedures.
Observers note that voluntary departures, as in Park’s case, allow individuals to leave on their own terms while maintaining dignity, even amid political controversy.
The hearing and surrounding reporting underscore the complex intersection of military service, immigration law and politics.
Veterans’ contributions remain honored, but compliance with federal law ultimately determines residency, and political narratives cannot override these legal realities.
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