Shot During 'Panama Invasion' in the US
Drug Conviction Due to PTSD... Stayed Under ICE Supervision
Sudden Deportation Warning from Immigration Authorities Led to Return to Korea
As a result of the hardline immigration policies under the Donald Trump administration, a 50-something Korean-American retired US Army veteran who had even received a military honor was ultimately forced to leave the United States in the form of a voluntary departure.
Yonhap News, citing a report by NPR on June 24 (local time), reported that Park Sejun, 55, who had been living in Hawaii until recently, voluntarily departed for South Korea on June 23.
Park was a US permanent resident, but a deportation order was issued against him 15 years ago due to drug possession and failure to appear in court. Although Park had been allowed to remain in the US with permission from immigration authorities at the time, he was recently notified without warning that he would be detained. In an interview with NPR, he said, "It is truly shocking that something like this is happening in the country I fought to protect."
Park moved to the United States at the age of seven with his parents and spent his childhood in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Army and was deployed in December 1989 to the "Panama Invasion" operation. He was honorably discharged after being shot in the back during the operation, and was awarded the Purple Heart in recognition of his combat service.
After leaving the military, Park suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eventually turned to drugs. He was arrested by police in New York for drug dealing, and after failing to appear in court, an additional charge of violating bail conditions was added. He served three years in prison from 2009.
After his release, Park was given a deportation order, but was able to remain in the US on the condition that he reported to immigration authorities every year. NPR explained that this is a common occurrence for those whom US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not classify as a deportation priority. Park quit drugs and moved to Hawaii, where his family lived, working as a car dealer for ten years and raising his son and daughter.
The situation changed abruptly earlier this month. At the Hawaii ICE office, Park was warned that unless he voluntarily left the country within the next few weeks, he would be detained and deported.
The United States provides expedited naturalization benefits to those who have served honorably in the military for more than one year during peacetime, or even a single day during wartime. However, Park was discharged before completing one year of service, and the Panama Invasion was not classified by the US government as a hostile act, so he was not eligible for expedited naturalization. Later, after being charged with drug possession and violating bail conditions, Park became ineligible to apply for naturalization or seek relief from the deportation order.
Ultimately, Park decided to leave the United States, where he had lived for over 50 years. Before boarding a flight to South Korea on June 23, he spent time with family and friends, saying, "I had to accept that this might be the last time I see my mother, who is 85 years old this year." He added, "Despite everything I've been through, I do not regret joining the military or being shot."
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