PHOENIX (AP) — As the 2024 presidential election nears, U.S. Army veteran Sae Joon Park recalls a sobering warning from an immigration official: If Donald Trump were to be reelected, his deportation risk would rise.
Arriving to the U.S. from Seoul, South Korea at the age of seven, Park joined the Army at nineteen and earned a Purple Heart for his service in Panama. However, after his military career, struggles with PTSD led to substance abuse issues, culminating in a drug-related 2009 arrest that resulted in a deportation order.
Park's veteran status allowed him to defer deportation for 14 years as he raised a family in Honolulu. That changed earlier this year when he discovered a removal order against him during a routine immigration check. This led him to self-deport rather than risk prolonged detention.
“They allowed me to join, serve the country – front line, taking bullets for this country. That should mean something,” Park lamented. Instead, he faced what he perceives as mistreatment of veterans.
Former Lt. Col. Margaret Stock underlined the plight of service members under Trump’s policies, noting, “It harms military recruiting, military readiness and the national security of our country.”
Under Biden, a policy recognizing prior military service as a mitigating factor in enforcement actions was rescinded, reiterating that military service does not guarantee protection from deportation. Many veterans, like Park, are now opting to leave the U.S. voluntarily, while others, including families of military personnel, are being detained.
The government lacks clear data on veteran deportations; however, a 2019 report identified around 250 veterans in removal proceedings since 2013. Recent congressional inquiries have suggested estimates as high as 10,000 deported veterans.
In response, federal lawmakers are proposing legislation that would provide green cards to parents of service members and those who have previously been deported.
Veteran Marlon Parris, facing his deportation order, plans to return with his family to Trinidad. “I’m not gonna put my husband in a situation to where he’s going to be a constant target, especially in the country that he fought for,” said his wife.
After self-deportation, Park now grapples with life in South Korea, having lived in the U.S. for most of his life. He describes the experience as difficult and alienating. His attorney has started a petition urging officials to dismiss his convictions to reverse the deportation order, garnering more than 10,000 signatures.
Reflecting on his service and recent challenges, Park said, “This is not the country that I volunteered and fought for.”
