On December 11, 2025, a tense and revealing scene unfolded on Capitol Hill as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before the House Committee on Homeland Security for its annual "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland" hearing. What began as a routine session quickly turned into a political flashpoint over the Trump administration's immigration enforcement, particularly its treatment of U.S. military veterans.
Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat from Rhode Island, wasted little time before steering the conversation to a subject that has long troubled both lawmakers and advocates: the deportation of veterans. "Sir, we have not deported U.S. citizens or military veterans," Noem stated under oath, according to ABC Audio and other outlets covering the hearing. But Magaziner was prepared for this answer.
Moments later, Magaziner introduced Sae Joon Park via live video. Park, a Purple Heart recipient and U.S. Army veteran who had been shot twice during combat in Panama in 1989, appeared on a tablet screen, joining the hearing remotely from South Korea. Park’s presence was more than symbolic—it was a direct contradiction to Noem’s categorical statement. As reported by multiple sources, including the University of Hawaiʻi's Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic, Park had lived in the United States for nearly 50 years before being compelled to "self-deport" earlier in 2025 under threat of arrest and detention.
Magaziner recounted Park’s story in detail: after returning from service, Park struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, leading to minor drug offenses in the 1990s. "He was arrested in the 1990s for some minor drug offenses, nothing serious. He never hurt anyone besides himself, and he’s been clean and sober for 14 years," Magaziner said, as quoted by ABC Audio. Park’s removal order, originally issued in 2010, was deferred for years before being enforced following a change in administration policy, as highlighted by the legal clinic and lawmakers.
When asked if she would thank Park for his service, Noem replied, "Sir, I’m grateful for every single person that has served our country and follows our laws." The response, which some observers described as perfunctory and insincere, did little to diffuse the tension in the room. Critics, including commentators and advocacy groups, saw Noem’s words as a forced gesture, likening it to a tired cashier’s "Have a nice day"—something said out of obligation rather than genuine gratitude.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin later clarified that Park had a criminal history and a final order of removal, stating, “With no legal basis to remain in the U.S. and a final order of removal, Park was allowed to self-deport to Korea.” Yet, as noted by the University of Hawaiʻi's Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic and Senators Mazie Hirono and Richard Blumenthal in a letter to Noem, Park’s offenses were decades old and linked to his PTSD, raising questions about the fairness of such removals.
Park’s case is not isolated. Magaziner also introduced Jim Brown, a Navy veteran from Troy, Missouri, whose wife—a native of Ireland—had lived in the United States for 48 years before being detained and facing deportation. Her only criminal record? Writing two bad checks totaling $80 several years ago. "She did not come here illegally, and she has never committed any crime other than writing two bad checks totaling $80 ten years ago," Magaziner emphasized. Noem responded by saying she would review Brown’s wife’s case but insisted, "It is not my prerogative, my latitude or my job to pick and choose which laws in this country get enforced." Magaziner countered that as DHS Secretary, Noem had "broad discretion" in enforcement priorities.
The hearing’s drama was heightened by Noem’s early departure, which she attributed to a scheduling conflict with another meeting—a meeting that, as reported by several sources, had been cancelled. Her abrupt exit was interpreted by critics as an attempt to avoid further scrutiny, especially after being confronted so directly with the human consequences of DHS policy.
Beyond the high-profile cases of Park and Brown, the hearing spotlighted broader trends in immigration enforcement. According to analysis by David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute—a think tank not typically aligned with liberal causes—of the approximately 281,000 people arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from January 20 through December 9, 2025, fewer than 10,000 were classified as "the worst of the worst" by DHS. "A majority (56 percent) of the list has not been charged or convicted of a violent crime," Bier noted, and "nearly a quarter…had nothing but a vice, immigration (e.g., illegal entry), or non-DUI traffic charge."
Further, Bier’s research found that between October 1, 2024, and June 14, 2025, 65 percent of people arrested by ICE had no criminal convictions, and 93 percent had no violent convictions. More recent data showed that 73 percent of those booked into ICE custody since October 1 had no criminal convictions at all, with only 5 percent having violent convictions. These statistics, cited in Reason and echoed by critics at the hearing, suggest that the administration’s enforcement priorities have swept up many individuals whose only offenses were minor or nonviolent.
For many observers, the hearing underscored a growing divide in how the nation views its obligations to immigrants who have served in the military. Republicans on the committee maintained that DHS is bound to enforce statutes as written, regardless of individual circumstances. Democrats, meanwhile, framed the Park case as emblematic of a broader policy failure—one that fails to account for the sacrifices and struggles of veterans, especially those grappling with service-related mental health issues.
Veterans’ advocates say the episode highlights the need for clearer guidance and greater discretion in cases involving military service. As documented by the University of Hawaiʻi's Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic and cited in congressional correspondence, Park’s removal was "deeply troubling" to many lawmakers. Under current U.S. immigration law, even lawful permanent residents can face removal for certain criminal convictions, regardless of how long ago the offense occurred or the individual’s service record.
While perjury requires willful falsification of a material fact—a legal threshold not met by the hearing alone—the moment carried significant political weight. Noem’s categorical denial was contradicted in real time by a veteran whose case has been documented by legal records and congressional inquiries. The incident has intensified debate over immigration enforcement and the treatment of those who have worn the nation’s uniform.
As the hearing faded from the headlines, the cases of Sae Joon Park, Jim Brown’s wife, and countless others remain unresolved. Their stories serve as stark reminders of the human impact of policy decisions made in Washington—decisions that, for some, mean the difference between home and exile, recognition and erasure.
