Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem found herself under intense scrutiny on Capitol Hill Thursday, as Democrats sharply questioned the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, particularly regarding the deportation of military veterans.

One of the most notable exchanges occurred when Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) asked Noem whether DHS had ever deported military veterans. Noem replied that the department had not.

Magaziner, however, referenced a case that turned the discussion into a heated debate. He displayed a tablet with the image of Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart recipient who was deported to Korea despite his military service. Park, who served in the U.S. Army in Panama in 1989 and was shot twice during combat, had struggled with PTSD and substance abuse after his service, Magaziner explained. He was arrested in the 1990s for minor drug offenses but had been sober for 14 years.

Magaziner pressed Noem, asking if she would thank Park for his service. Noem responded, “Sir, I’m grateful for every single person that has served our country and follows our laws.”

In a follow-up statement, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson clarified that Magaziner did not mention Park’s criminal history, although the congressman did reference it during his remarks. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin added that Park had been ordered to be removed from the U.S. in 2010 by an immigration judge. His appeal was dismissed in 2011, and with no legal standing to remain in the country, Park self-deported to Korea.

Magaziner also introduced a second case during the hearing, presenting Jim Brown, a military veteran from Troy, Missouri, who was sitting in the gallery behind Noem. Brown’s wife, a native of Ireland, had lived in the U.S. for 48 years before being detained and threatened with deportation. Magaziner explained that her only criminal record was writing two bad checks totaling $80 years ago.