Purple Heart veteran self-deports after 50 years in the U.S. | The U.S. offers naturalization for those who serve in the military for at least one year, or a single day during wartime, but Park was discharged before he serving a year and the invasion of Panama was not classified as a war
Posted by ONETRILLIONAMERICANS
5 Comments
Just heartbreaking:
> 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 over 15 years ago — offenses that, he said, stemmed from years of untreated PTSD.
> Park’s story reflects both the challenges of life after combat and the perils that noncitizen veterans face if caught in the legal system — realities made harsher amid the Trump administration’s push for record deportations.
> ” I can’t believe that this is happening in America,” Park told NPR in an interview prior to his departure. “That blows me away, like a country that I fought for.”
> U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Holy fuck, as a Korean American it’s upsetting to hear someone whose given a lot for this country and treated this way.
Absolutely depraved.
This man came to the U.S. when he was 7 years old.
It fucking sucks and I hope South Korea treats him better than the US did
Again…
People are ASSETS. There are exceptions in the law and enforcement discretion provided to ensure draconian, mindless enforcement does not diminish our country.
It’s an absurdity. This action benefits no one and only causes pain. It isn’t legally necessary.
Deporting criminals or fresh economic migrants without ties? This makes some sense.
But to deport near lifelong residents or people with established families, or those educated here, or those doing nothing but earning a living for their families…
It just destroys assets to this country and there’s no significant benefit otherwise provided.
It makes no sense morally or economically.