Hochul Pardons Laotian Immigrant to Prevent Deportation

Governor Kathy Hochul pardoned Laotian immigrant Somchith Vatthanavong to prevent his deportation, recognizing his rehabilitation and long-standing residence in the U.S. after a teenage manslaughter conviction. The pardon, issued quietly, was part of a broader batch aimed at helping immigrants with old convictions, amidst political sensitivities around crime and immigration. Vatthanavong, who served prison time and built a life in New York, faced deportation threats under the Trump administration's stricter immigration policies.