Gov. Hochul secretly pardons an illegal migrant convicted of manslaughter to block his deportation
The New York Governor pardoned Somchith Vatthanavong, 52, as part of a bigger clemency grant to 13 people many with serious criminal histories.
Republicans, including U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, blasted the decision as “shameful” and accused Hochul of being “caught red-handed” in secretly forgiving a “violent criminal illegal immigrant” who killed an innocent man, all to “score points with progressive activists” while putting New York citizens in danger
The pardon, quietly issued on July 1, came just in time to stop Vatthanavong’s impending deportation.
Vatthanavong, who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee, was convicted of a fatal shooting back in 1990. It happened on Christmas eve outside of a Brooklyn pool hall, Vatthanavong got into a confrontation with Miguel Melero, a man he did not know. He alleged Melero threatened him with a knife. Vatthanavong then grabbed a friend’s gun, fired a shot and killed Melero.
Vatthanavong pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
He was sentenced to 7 to 21 years in prison and ultimately served 14 years. While he was in prison his conviction—classified as an aggravated felony—triggered a deportation order, however it was stalled for years because of his home country’s (Laos) non-cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.
Critics say Hochul’s moves undermine immigration laws and rewards criminal behavior at the expense of victims’ families and law-abiding citizens.
