August 29, 2026

New York Governor Grants Pardon to Veteran Sae Joon Park, Opening Path for Return to U.S.

Governor Kathy Hochul pardoned Sae Joon Park, erasing his convictions for bail jumping and drug possession, which had led to his self-deportation.
Park, a Purple Heart veteran, self-deported to South Korea last year after facing deportation due to his criminal record and threats from ICE during a check-in.
The pardon provides grounds for Park's legal team to vacate his removal order, though it does not guarantee his return to the U.S.
Park expressed gratitude for the pardon and hope for reuniting with his family after more than a year apart.

Read the news this way every day.

Concur organizes political reporting into clear stories and shows the sources behind each one.

Free. No ads.