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Former Hawaii Army Soldier Self-Deports
- On Monday, June 23, 2025, Sae Joon Park, a 55-year-old Purple Heart recipient and U.S. Army veteran who had spent nearly five decades residing in the United States, chose to return to his native South Korea by self-deportation from Hawaii.
- Park's compelled self-deportation was the outcome of a removal order connected to decades-old drug possession charges and a missed court date from more than 15 years prior, occurring amid the Trump administration's heightened efforts to deport individuals with criminal histories.
- Having served honorably and been wounded in the 1989 Panama conflict, Park struggled with severe PTSD and addiction, served two and a half years in prison, and had his green card revoked despite contesting deportation in court.
- Before departing, Park expressed deep sorrow over having to abruptly abandon his life, mourning that he would miss his daughter’s wedding and probably never see his elderly parents again.
- Park’s attorney described him as American in every sense but on paper and urged Congress to create pathways to citizenship and forgive past mistakes for veterans like Park.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Former Hawaii army soldier self-deports | News Channel 3-12
By Jai Cunningham Click here for updates on this story HONOLULU (KITV) — As immigrant deportations across the U.S. continue some feel that non-dangerous immigrants are getting caught in the crossfire. “Thank you for your service! I’m sorry!” Sae Joon Park was one of those immigrants. He took farewell pictures with his loved ones at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Monday, June 23. It was like a dream send off, but this is not a …
Purple Heart Army veteran self-deports after nearly 50 years in the U.S.
For 55-year-old U.S. Army veteran Sae Joon Park, this was the hardest moment of his life. Not getting shot in combat. Not the years battling post-traumatic stress disorder or addiction. Not prison. It was leaving the U.S., a country he called home for nearly five decades.On Monday, Park, a green-card holder, self-deported to South Korea. His removal order was the result of charges related to drug possession and failure to appear in court from ov…
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