HONOLULU, Hawaii (Island News) -- A routine hearing on Capitol Hill erupted into tense moments Wednesday when a Rhode Island congressman pressed U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on whether military veterans are being deported.

“Madam Secretary, how many U.S. military veterans have you deported?” Rep. Seth Magaziner asked.

“Sir, we have not deported U.S. citizens or military veterans,” Noem responded.

What Noem didn’t know; Magaziner had a recently deported U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient and longtime Hawaii resident Sae Joon Park, ready on a live video call.

Magaziner acknowledged Park’s decades-old drug offenses tied to PTSD, but argued the crimes only impacted Park himself. Noem responded that she is “grateful for every single person who has served”

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