Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart veteran who self-deported, receives pardon
Sae Joon Park, a U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient who self-deported to South Korea, has received a pardon from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. This pardon is a crucial step in his efforts to return to the United States, where he has lived for most of his life.
Why it matters
The case highlights the intersection of immigration policy, criminal justice, and the treatment of military veterans facing deportation.
Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart veteran who self-deported last year , has received a pardon, a critical step forward in his pursuit to return to the U.S. where he has lived nearly all his life.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., erased Park's convictions of bail jumping and drug possession on Friday. He was among six individuals granted clemency because they "displayed positive changes in their lives and will dedicate themselves to bettering their communities," Hochul said in a statement .
"They earned their second chance through rehabilitation and can now establish their futures once again," she added.
In a statement, Park said he has been praying for the chance to come back to the U.S. every day.
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