New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday granted a full pardon to Sae Joon Park, a 57‑year‑old Korean‑born U.S. Army veteran who was forced to leave the country after immigration officials threatened his arrest. The pardon erases two New York convictions – bail jumping in 2009 and criminal possession of a controlled substance in 2007 – and signals a possible path for Park to have his removal order vacated.
Background and service
Park arrived in the United States at age seven, traveling alone from South Korea to join his mother in Miami after his parents’ divorce. He later moved to Southern California, graduated from high school, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. In 1989 he fought in the invasion of Panama, where he was shot twice and earned a Purple Heart for his injuries.
After returning home, Park struggled with post‑traumatic stress disorder and turned to drugs to cope. He was arrested in New York in 2007 for buying drugs and later convicted of possession of a controlled substance. Fearing a failed drug test while on probation, he missed a court appearance and fled to Hawaii, where his family eventually convinced him to turn himself in.
Criminal convictions and removal
Park was convicted of second‑degree bail jumping – an aggravated felony under immigration law – and served a prison term before his release in 2011. An immigration judge subsequently issued a removal order, and after six months in ICE detention he was granted deferred action based on his status as a Purple Heart veteran. The green card he held as a child was revoked, and he was barred from traveling abroad, though he could remain and work in the United States.
In June of last year, an ICE officer cited Park’s prior removal order during a routine check‑in and threatened immediate detention. Park agreed to wear an ankle monitor in exchange for avoiding arrest, but three weeks later he chose to self‑deport to South Korea, leaving behind his two adult children.
Pardon and next steps
Governor Hochul’s pardon, announced alongside five other individuals, cited “positive changes” and a commitment to “better their communities.” Park expressed deep gratitude, saying the pardon gives his family renewed hope of reuniting after more than a year of separation.
Legal experts note that while the pardon does not automatically restore Park’s ability to re‑enter the United States, it provides a strong basis for petitioning to vacate the removal order. Attorney Danicole Ramos, who represents Park, said the decision represents a “tremendous step forward” but cautioned that the timeline for any return remains uncertain.
Broader implications
Park’s case highlights the challenges faced by non‑citizen veterans who served the United States and later encountered immigration enforcement. The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown led many such veterans to self‑deport or be expelled, prompting renewed calls from lawmakers for compassionate treatment of those who have sacrificed for the nation.
State officials and veteran advocacy groups continue to monitor the situation, emphasizing the need for policies that honor military service while upholding immigration law.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
