New York Governor Kathy Hochul has granted pardons to 13 migrants with past criminal convictions, including a Laotian man convicted of manslaughter more than three decades ago.
The clemency actions were disclosed by her office only after the New York Times reported on them, according to the New York Post.
Among those pardoned was Somchith Vatthanavong, 52, who was convicted of manslaughter in 1990 after shooting and killing a man during a fight outside a pool hall.
Evil Democrat Kathy Hochul pardoned 13 illegals to keep them from being deported. One, a Laotian refugee who killed a man in a 1988 Brooklyn pool hall, was later convicted only of manslaughter in 1990 because Democrats are soft on crime. I'm surprised he was charged at all. pic.twitter.com/SkJ6sGZey2
— Mike Engleman🇺🇲 (@RealHickory) August 17, 2025
Vatthanavong, who came to the United States illegally following the Vietnam War, told the Times that he acted in self-defense.
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“They’ve paid their debt, and I’ll be damned if I let them be deported to a country where they don’t know a soul,” Hochul told the newspaper.
“And to those who would demonize them to score political points, I ask: Where is your compassion?”
The pardons apply to migrants who have already completed their prison sentences.
While the records of conviction remain intact, Hochul’s action prevents immigration authorities from using those convictions as grounds for deportation.
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The move marks a departure from positions Hochul’s office outlined earlier this year in testimony to Congress regarding state cooperation with federal agencies.
“There is no sanctuary in New York for people who commit crimes. New York is committed to cracking down on gang members and violent criminals, and State officials cooperate with ICE and CBP in many circumstance[s],” her office wrote in a memo defending the state’s sanctuary policies.
In addition to Vatthanavong, Hochul said the pardoned group included lawful permanent residents from Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and South Africa.
She did not specify whether others beyond Vatthanavong had entered the United States illegally.
In a statement released on the governor’s website, Hochul said the pardons were issued after extensive consideration.
“After careful deliberation, I’m granting clemency to thirteen individuals who have demonstrated remorse for their actions and exemplify a commitment to bettering their communities,” Hochul said.
Federal immigration records show that Vatthanavong had been ordered deported after serving his sentence, but the removal was never carried out.
U.S. authorities have faced difficulties in enforcing deportations to Laos, as the country has declined to accept deported nationals for years.
The pardons come at a time when Hochul is managing increasing political pressure surrounding immigration policies in New York.
🚨 🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS:Kathy Hochul was just caught red handed for secretly pardoning a violent illegal felon.Hochul’s dangerous secret pardon of this violent criminal illegal, who should have been deported 35 years ago after his conviction, is yet another example of her…
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) August 15, 2025
Her office did not indicate whether additional pardons are planned, but officials confirmed that she has received 84 pending pardon applications and 186 commutation requests since January.
Hochul has previously emphasized balancing compassion with public safety in her clemency decisions.
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In this case, the pardons are limited to shielding recipients from immigration consequences, without erasing their criminal records.
The announcement adds to ongoing debates over sanctuary state policies and immigration enforcement.
While Hochul has defended her state’s cooperation with federal agencies in some cases, critics have argued that broad clemency protections complicate enforcement and raise concerns about repeat offenders avoiding deportation.
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how many U.S. citizens has she planned to pardon or accepted applications from?
Democrats lie, cheat, and steal. It is their standard procedure. The notion that the Democrats are “the party of the people” is and always has been ludicrous. Do New Yorkers actually support this? When this guy kills again, will they hold Hochul responsible for it? I tend to doubt it. Stupid is as stupid does.
Party of the people–ILLEGALS, especially those that face deportation.
Not everyone in NY is a Democrat. The have a political majority and that’s it. She’s not as popular as people think.
Hochul may be hard to find at that time because, as I have stated, Hochul is committing political suicide with these actions.
LOL she did such things many years ago. WTH are the voters in that state THINKING???
Poor..? Illegal Alien, doesn’t know anyone in Vietnam, but now he left his Criminal friends in Prison behind – oh, what a sob story, NOT…
They still need to go home. That doesn’t give them more right to be here
Welcome to COMMUNIST-RUN N.Y. where criminals are coddled,sent back to the streets to continue murdering, robbing, and raping and the victims of these illegal aliens, and career criminals quickly ignored.
Wake the hell up N.Y. residents, and work to REMOVE this communist dictator.
BTW, in another note, wake up N.Y. city because the new “mayor” running is another communist.
Hochul THHINKS she is saving them from deportation & that might be so, but she is just committing suicide as far as her campaign goes. This is only fodder for Elise when the people go to vote.
Is this woman senile or just stupid?I wonder if her family member is attacked by one of these she wants to stay in the USA ,how will she react
NY state voters must be some of the dumbest people in the country, next to Ill. Mi and Cal. if THIS is what they want running their state. WTH were they thinking? And WHY is this Female still in office? Had this been a Republican, the WHOLE CORRUPT MEDIA would have been up in arms.