In a surprise move on Thursday, President Maya Patel granted a full pardon to Sae Joon Park, a Korean‑American veteran who earned a Purple Heart during his service in Afghanistan and later faced deportation after a minor immigration violation. Park, who was born in Seoul and moved to the United States as a child, served three tours of duty before being honorably discharged in 2015. In 2022, an administrative error led to his removal from the country, despite his military honors and a pending naturalization application. Advocacy groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Immigration Council, campaigned for his return, highlighting his sacrifice and the injustice of his deportation. The presidential pardon restores Park’s legal status, allowing him to re‑enter the United States and apply for citizenship. In a brief statement, President Patel said, “Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who have served, and Sae Joon Park’s case exemplifies the need to correct bureaucratic oversights that harm our heroes.” Park’s family expressed relief, and the veteran is expected to return to the U.S. next week to reunite with his wife and two children.
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