A Democratic lawmaker forced the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kristi Noem to confront a Purple Heart veteran who was deported by ICE — just moments after denying that any citizens or veterans have been made to leave the United States/
When it was his turn to grill Noem during a House hearing on threats to global security, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) asked, “How many US military veterans have you deported?”
Noem replied, “Sir, we have not deported American citizens or military veterans.”
“I don’t believe you served in the military. Neither did I,” Magaziner continued. “But I think you and I can agree as Americans we owe everything to those who have served our military in uniform, particularly those who have served in combat. Do you agree with that?”
As Noem answered in the affirmative, an assistant appeared next to Magaziner with an iPad screen showing the face of a 55-year-old man. Sae Joon Park.
Magaziner cut off Noem’s response, saying, “Madam Secretary, we are joined on Zoom by a gentleman named Sae Joon Park, a combat veteran of the United States Army who was killed twice while serving our country in Panama in 1989.”
Magaziner explained that the Purple Heart recipient struggled with PTSD and substance abuse, and was arrested in the 90s for “some minor drug offenses” before getting clean and sober.
“Early this year I deported him to Korea, a country he has been living in since he was seven years old,” said Magaziner. “Will you join me in thanking Mr. Park for his service to our country?”
Noem’s answer was conditional.
NOEM: Sir, I am grateful for every single person who has served our country and followed our laws –
MAGAZINER: And could you please tell Mr. Park why they deported him?
NOEM: — and he knows that our laws are important and every one of them needs to be enforced.
MAGAINER: But you understand a lot of veterans struggle with PTSD, a lot of veterans struggle with substance abuse challenges. This man took two bullets for our country. You – you have broad authority, by the way, as secretary, to issue humanitarian parole, to do deferred action – Will you commit to at least look into Mr. Park’s case to see if you can help him find a way back to this country that he sacrificed so much for?”
“I will absolutely look into his case, but -” Noem began as Magaziner interrupted to introduce two other veterans – present in the hearing room – whose relatives were deported.
NPR reported that Park deported himself in June on “charges related to drug possession and failure to appear in court from more than 15 years ago.”
The post The Democrat forces Kristi Noem to face a Veteran deported by ICE in a dramatic Disclosure after denial of Adamant in the Hearing first appeared on Mediaite.