Hochul pardons ex-con migrants — including Laotian man who killed someone in 1990: ‘They’ve paid the

[rangerrebew]

Hochul pardons ex-con migrants — including Laotian man who killed someone in 1990: ‘They’ve paid their debt’
Story by Vaughn Golden • 16h

ALBANY – Gov. Kathy Hochul has been quietly pardoning migrants with decades-old criminal histories — including at least one who killed another man.

The Dem governor recently granted the extreme act of clemency to 13 migrants, including Somchith Vatthanavong, a 52-year-old Laotian man who entered the US illegally and was convicted of manslaughter in 1990, the New York Times first reported.

Vatthanavong, who fled to the US after the Vietnam War, claimed to the outlet that he was defending himself during an altercation outside a pool hall when he fatally shot a man.
 
“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 Times in defending her decision.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/hochul-pardons-ex-con-migrants-including-laotian-man-who-killed-someone-in-1990-they-ve-paid-their-debt/ar-AA1KByKc?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=65867e38a0e64583bd5f7b09775f0bba&ei=183

[rangerrebew]

“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 Times in defending her decision.
 

I wonder how many "souls" they knew when they came here illegally?

[Fishrrman]

Seems to me that "entering the country illegally" is a federal crime and not within hochul's prerogative to pardon.

I welcome correction from others on this.

Tom Homan, please pick up the nearest courtesy phone. Your help is requested...

[Smokin Joe]

Seems to me that "entering the country illegally" is a federal crime and not within hochul's prerogative to pardon.

I welcome correction from others on this.

Tom Homan, please pick up the nearest courtesy phone. Your help is requested...

Just being here without the paperwork is a new crime--every day. Not to mention that while the Governor can pardon state level convictions, I'm not sure that extends to Federal Charges.

Pardoned or not, they are still illegals.