A high-profile immigration case involving a deported U.S. Army veteran has drawn national attention. The legal case is being led by University of Hawaiʻi law school alumnus Danicole Ramos and the UH Mānoa Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic.
Ramos, a 2023 graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, represents Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart recipient, father of two, and South Korea–born U.S. Army veteran who was directed to self-deport on June 23, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The case has received widespread media coverage and was recently mentioned on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. It has sparked renewed debate about immigration policy, veterans’ rights and the treatment of noncitizen service members.
Case highlights flaws in immigration law
With the support of an Equal Justice Works Fellowship, Ramos has continued his commitment to immigrant justice after graduating. He works with the Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic under the guidance of faculty mentors.
“In every way but on paper, Mr. Park is an American,” said Ramos. “He took two bullets for this country, swore an oath to defend the Constitution, and earned a Purple Heart. Despite his past mistakes, he worked hard to overcome his struggles, raise two children and care for his elderly parents. His story is the American story, and it resonates with so many.”
Park immigrated to the U.S. as a child and enlisted in the U.S. Army in his early twenties. After returning from active duty, he experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. His struggles with mental health and addiction led to a drug possession conviction and a missed court appearance. Those charges became the basis for a removal order that ultimately led to his deportation under current immigration law.
The Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic at the William S. Richardson School of Law provides legal services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers who face significant legal and systemic barriers. Under the supervision of clinic faculty, UH law students work on real-client cases that reflect the school’s commitment to justice, the rule of law, and service to the community.
“Mr. Park’s deportation has revealed deeply ingrained flaws in our immigration legal system, which often refuses to acknowledge and accept the complexities of the human experience,” said Esther Yoo, director of the Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic. “Thanks to Mr. Park’s willingness to share his story, the public has become more aware of some of the injustices perpetrated by the system.”
Support grows to bring veteran home
Public support for Park has grown steadily since his deportation. A petition urging the Queens County District Attorney’s Office in New York to reopen Mr. Park’s case and vacate the charges has gained thousands of signatures.
Read more at the UH law school website.
