PHOENIX (AP) — With the 2024 presidential election approaching, U.S. Army veteran Sae Joon Park recalls a chilling warning from an immigration officer: if Donald Trump is elected again, he risks deportation.
Park, who came to the U.S. from Seoul at the age of 7 and served in the Army, receiving a Purple Heart for his bravery, now grapples with the implications of a 2009 drug arrest that led to a deportation order. Though he was granted deferred action due to his military status, recent developments have overturned that security.
In June, after checking in with immigration, Park discovered his deportation order was active. To avoid detention, he opted for self-deportation, stating, They allowed me to join, serve the country – front lines, taking bullets for this country. That should mean something.
This situation raises concerns as veterans argue their sacrifices are being disregarded, exacerbated by the Trump administration's previous stance on immigration which threatened to strip military personnel of citizenship pathways.
Experts highlight that Trump's policies, like mass deportations, do not even spare military members and their families. Retired Lt. Col. Margaret Stock points out the detrimental effect this has on military recruitment and readiness.
Under the Biden administration, there was an attempt to recognize military service as a mitigating factor in enforcement actions involving noncitizens. However, that policy has since been rescinded, effectively placing immigrant veterans like Park back at risk.
Both military veterans and their immigrant relatives are increasingly facing threats of detention and deportation, particularly with more stringent measures in place, leading some to take drastic steps to avoid community separation.
The plight of Park reflects broader national issues, with reports indicating that veterans are struggling to navigate immigration policies. Congressional efforts to solidify protections for immigrant service members are being weighed, raising questions about the commitment to uphold the promise of citizenship for those who serve.
As the debate over immigration continues in the lead-up to the elections, the challenges facing veterans like Park highlight a deepening crisis that embodies the complex intersection of service, citizenship, and immigration reform.
Park's case has spurred an online petition amassing thousands of supporters aiming to advocate for his cause. Despite their struggles, veterans like Park are left confronting an uncertain future, echoing a sentiment of betrayal: “This is not the country that I volunteered and fought for.”
