He earned a Purple Heart fighting for the US. Swept up in Trump’s immigration crackdown, he now fights to come home
He earned a Purple Heart fighting for the US. Swept up in Trump’s immigration crackdown, he now fights to come home
He earned a Purple Heart fighting – At Camp Humphreys, Sae Joon Park finds himself in a familiar setting as he orders pancakes and passes by military personnel, a momentary escape from the stark reality of his current situation. The South Korean-born veteran, now 56, has spent the past year living in a country he once called home, far from the American streets he left behind. For a brief few hours, the bustling base feels like a temporary return to the United States, a place he hadn’t set foot since self-deporting last summer. Yet, the sense of belonging is fleeting, as the daily grind of military life contrasts sharply with the quiet struggles of his life in exile.
A Life Shaped by Resilience and Reinvention
Park’s journey to the United States began at just 7 years old, when his parents’ divorce forced him to leave South Korea. He traveled alone to join his mother in Miami, where he quickly learned to navigate a world that felt foreign and hostile. “Miami was tough,” he recalled to CNN. “I would always get in fights … I was the only Asian kid in the entire school, so I would get picked on a lot.” The experience of being an outsider shaped his early years, and within a year, he and his mother relocated to Los Angeles, a city that offered a more supportive environment. There, he grew up surrounded by extended family in Koreatown and the San Fernando Valley, finding solace in the community.
His mother worked multiple waitressing jobs before eventually launching small businesses selling clothing and records, providing a modest but stable life for the family. Seeking direction after high school, Park enlisted in the military with his best friend, advised by his uncle—a South Korean Marine colonel and the eldest of his mother’s 11 siblings. The decision to join the armed forces marked a turning point, leading him to a place where his identity as a soldier would become central to his life.
The Combat That Changed Everything
In October 1989, Park was stationed at Fort Clayton in Panama, where he was thrust into what the Army described as “the largest and most complex combat operation” since the Vietnam War. The mission, known as “Operation Just Cause,” aimed to remove Manuel Noriega, Panama’s drug-trafficking leader, from power. Park’s platoon was involved in a critical operation that would alter his trajectory forever. During a raid on a house linked to Noriega, he encountered a Brazilian woman described as the dictator’s “witch,” reportedly responsible for occult rituals that fueled his regime’s power.
“I got there just in time for the training and to go into war,” Park told CNN. “In a matter of days, I was part of a mission that would earn me one of the most esteemed honors in the U.S. military.”
The raid turned chaotic when a firefight erupted outside the home. Park was struck twice—once in the spine and again in the lower back—before being dragged to safety, bloodied and gasping for breath. His injuries left him temporarily paralyzed and unable to move, a fate he endured while heavily medicated. Despite the severity of his wounds, he survived, and his bravery in the field earned him a Purple Heart, a symbol of valor awarded to those injured or killed in combat. The ceremony, held at a San Antonio Army hospital, was a poignant moment for Park, though he remembers little of the aftermath, only the haze of drugs and the struggle to regain control of his body.
Struggles in Civilian Life and the Road to Deportation
Returning to civilian life, Park faced the emotional and psychological toll of his experiences. What he later recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder lingered in the form of panic attacks triggered by loud noises and persistent nightmares. Yet, he channeled his resilience into rebuilding his life, working hard to establish himself in the United States. That effort came to a sudden halt when immigration officials, during a routine check-in, unexpectedly threatened to handcuff and arrest him for a prior criminal conviction. The charges included drug possession and bail jumping, which, under Trump’s administration, became justification for his removal.
His case gained national attention in December 2025, when lawmakers questioned then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a tense congressional hearing. The debate centered on the treatment of noncitizen veterans, many of whom had served their country with distinction but were now caught in the crosshairs of a stricter immigration policy. Park’s attorney noted that the Department of Homeland Security continued to cite his criminal record as the primary reason for his deportation, despite his efforts to pursue multiple legal avenues. These include requests for a pardon from the governor of New York, a process that could take years and remains uncertain in its outcome.
A Question of Loyalty and Justice
Park’s story has sparked a broader conversation about the fairness of Trump’s immigration crackdown, which immigration attorneys argue has revived outdated removal orders and narrowed the discretion of officials. The veteran, who had sworn to defend and protect the United States, now finds himself at odds with the very system he served. His case highlights the tension between national security priorities and the rights of individuals who have contributed to the country’s defense.
“He’s a man who fought for America,” said one immigration lawyer. “Now, he’s being treated as a threat to the nation’s borders. That’s a stark contrast to the values he embodied as a soldier.” Park’s attorney emphasized that while the legal process is ongoing, the emotional weight of his situation is undeniable. The veteran, who once dreamed of a life in the United States, now faces the prospect of living in a foreign country he had to leave behind. His journey from a child fleeing family strife to a decorated soldier and, ultimately, a displaced citizen underscores the complexities of identity, loyalty, and the evolving landscape of immigration law.
As Park continues his fight to return, his case remains a symbol of the challenges faced by noncitizen veterans. Whether through pardons, appeals, or other legal strategies, he hopes to reclaim the place he once called home. His story, however, is not just about personal redemption—it’s a reflection of a larger debate about how the U.S. balances its commitment to service with the enforcement of immigration policies. For Park, the question is personal: Can a man who earned the Purple Heart in battle still find a way back to the country he fought for?
