Kristi Noem grilled over L.A. Purple Heart Army vet who self-deported

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The saga of a Los Angeles Army veteran who legally immigrated to the United States, was wounded in combat and self-deported to South Korea earlier this year, became a flashpoint during a testy congressional hearing about the Trump administration’s immigration policy.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was grilled Thursday on Capitol Hill about military veterans deported during the immigration crackdown launched earlier this year, including in Los Angeles.“Sir, we have not deported U.S.citizens or military veterans,” Noem responded when questioned by Rep.

Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.).An aide then held up a tablet showing a Zoom connection with Purple Heart recipient Sae Joon Park in South Korea.The congressman argued that Park had “sacrificed more for this country than most people ever have” and asked Noem if she would investigate Park’s case given her discretion as a cabinet member.

Noem pledged to “absolutely look at his case.” Politics On Monday, veteran Sae Joon Park, who legally immigrated from South Korea when he was seven years old, flew back to his homeland under threat of deportation at the age of 55.Park, reached in Seoul on Thursday night, said he was skeptical that Noem would follow through on her promise, but said that he had “goosebumps” watching the congressional hearing.“It was amazing.And then I’m getting tons of phone calls from all my friends back home and everywhere else.

I’m so very grateful for everything that happened today,” Park, 56, said, noting that friends told him that a clip of his story appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show Thursday night.The late-night host featured footage of Park’s moment in the congressional hearing in his opening monologue.“Is anyone OK with this? Seriously, all kidding aside, we deported a veteran with a Purple Heart?” Kimmel said, adding that Republicans “claim to care so much a...