NY Gov. Hochul Secretly Pardons Illegal Immigrant Convicted of Manslaughter, Drawing Federal Criticism

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has sparked national attention after granting pardons to 13 individuals with criminal records, including one illegal immigrant convicted of manslaughter, a move sharply criticized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Among those pardoned is 52-year-old Somchith Vatthanavong, a Laotian national who entered the United States illegally and was convicted of manslaughter in 1990. 

Vatthanavong told The New York Times that he fired the fatal shot during a confrontation outside a pool hall, claiming self-defense. 

Other recipients include lawful permanent residents from Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and South Africa, though it is unclear how many, aside from Vatthanavong, entered the country without authorization.

“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. “And to those who would demonize them to score political points, I ask: Where is your compassion?” 

In New York, pardons do not erase criminal convictions but provide protection from certain legal consequences, including deportation. 

Vatthanavong had previously been ordered to be deported by a federal immigration judge, but Laos has refused to accept deportees from the U.S. for years, so the deportation never took place, according to OANN. 

Separately, Hochul’s office noted that she has received 84 pardon applications and 186 requests for commutations so far this year, highlighting the broader use of clemency in the state.

The federal response was swift. 

DHS posted on X that Hochul was shielding “a criminal illegal alien KILLER with a rap sheet including convictions for manslaughter and criminal possession of a firearm,” asserting that the governor was putting illegal immigrants ahead of New Yorkers. 

The post also emphasized that President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem would “continue fighting to protect every American citizen and remove the worst of the worst from our nation.”

Supporters of Vatthanavong argue the pardon reflects his decades-long residence in the U.S., demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation. 

They maintain that preventing his deportation is a humane response to circumstances he cannot control, Just the News reports. 

Federal officials, however, framed the pardon as prioritizing an illegal immigrant over public safety and immigration enforcement.

Hochul’s decision also intersects with New York’s sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. 

Under these laws, police and state agencies generally cannot honor federal detainer requests unless the individual has been convicted of certain serious crimes. 

Critics argue these policies may allow illegal immigrants with criminal histories to avoid federal oversight, while supporters say they protect immigrant communities from deportation for minor offenses and encourage cooperation with local authorities. 

Combining sanctuary laws with a soft-on-crime approach, critics contend, could shield dangerous individuals from federal oversight and complicate public safety efforts.

Vatthanavong’s case highlights the tension between state-level clemency powers and federal authority over immigration. 

By granting pardons to illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, Hochul has intensified national discussion over whether states are overstepping their authority and the potential risks to public safety. 

The case also raises broader questions about how state policies, sanctuary laws and a soft-on-crime stance interact to influence law enforcement and immigration enforcement priorities.

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