“Pardon Me, Kathy”

NY Governor Hochul’s Push To Keep Immigrant Criminals In The US

Sae Joon Park is a Korean immigrant who served in the US Army during the invasion of Panama in the late 20^th century (1989); and at the time, 37 years ago, he was wounded in action, and thus is referred to in MSM headlines as “Purple Heart Veteran.”

He was also a felon, convicted of drug possession and bail jumping in 2009—20 years after leaving the Army.

Before the Trump Administration started to clear out criminal aliens, his deportation order was stayed as long as he kept his nose clean—he was Legal Permanent Resident who had never taken out citizenship—but the Trump Administration sent him a message saying he should leave…and he left. He’s in his native Korea now.

NY State Governor Kathy Hochul wants him back. She’s pardoned him for his crime committed in New York State, apparently because he’s an immigrant.

Hochul Pardons Purple Heart Veteran Who Had Self-Deported to South Korea

Sae Joon Park, who had earned a Purple Heart, was swept up in President Trump’s immigration crackdown last year. It’s not clear if the pardon will allow him to return to the United States. After 49 years in the United States, Sae Joon Park, 57, has found himself a stranger in his home country, unable to speak or write Korean

By Grace Ashford, NYT, August 31, 2026

This is not the first time she’s done this—in 2025 she pardoned a Laotian gunman specifically to stop his deportation:

Governor Hochul Pardons Laotian Immigrant to Stop His Deportation

The man had been convicted of manslaughter as a teenager after he admitted to fatally shooting a man during a pool hall confrontation in Brooklyn, arguing it was self-defense.

“Unless I believe someone poses a danger, I follow what the Bible tells us: ‘Forgive one another as God in Christ forgave you,’” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Friday.

By Luis Ferré-Sadurní, NYT, August 15, 2025

Hochul was raised Catholic, by the way, and the fact that she’s able to quote Ephesians 4:32 in an official message without being attacked by the NYT is an example of Liberal Privilege.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has long used her pardon powers to spare criminal noncitizens from deportation.
For instance, in December 2022, Hochul pardoned nine foreign nationals who engaged in criminal activity after migrating to the United States — crimes including drug… pic.twitter.com/pRbbUm6IB4

— Mike Netter (@nettermike) August 18, 2025

More recently, in the same announcement of clemency that included US Army veteran Park, she pardoned:

Keisy Guerrero Mariano, 38,[who] was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree in 2015.

On Twitter, “John Doe” explains that

1 year after immigrating to the US, Keisy Guerrero Mariano committed a violent robbery. He spent 19 months in prison. DHS sought to deport him in 2019. On Friday, Kathy Hochul pardoned him, barring his deportation. Who benefits from letting violent criminals stay in the US?

1 year after immigrating to the US, Keisy Guerrero Mariano committed a violent robbery. He spent 19 months in prison. DHS sought to deport him in 2019. On Friday, Kathy Hochul pardoned him, barring his deportation. Who benefits from letting violent criminals stay in the US? pic.twitter.com/Jmn1SCR4BO

— John Doe (@fedjudges) August 31, 2026

And goes on to say:

The ACLU told SCOTUS today that Guerrero’s pardon moots a case asking whether it is constitutional to detain criminals during their deportation proceedings. Despite Guerrero being in removal proceedings for almost 7 years, Hochul waited to pardon him until SCOTUS got involved.

Hochul clearly feels strongly about preventing the deportations of criminal (or any other illegal) immigrants. This from her Facebook page:

The prosecutors in New York State have been letting immigrants get away with crimes to prevent them from being deported for some time:

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez Announces New Policy
Regarding Handling of Cases against Non-Citizen Defendants

Will Aim to Prevent Collateral Consequences of Convictions by
Being Aware of Immigration Status of Defendants and Offering Appropriate Pleas;
Two Newly-Hired Immigration Attorneys will Train Staff and Advise on Offers

BrooklynDA.org, April 24, 2017

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that his Office is implementing a new policy aimed at minimizing collateral immigration consequences of criminal convictions, particularly for misdemeanor and other low-level offenses. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has hired two immigration attorneys to train all staff on immigration issues and to advise prosecutors when making plea offers and sentencing recommendations on cases of non-citizen defendants in an effort to avoid disproportionate collateral consequences, such as deportation, while maintaining public safety.

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez said, “I am committed to equal and fair justice for all Brooklyn residents – citizens, lawful residents and undocumented immigrants alike. Now more than ever, we must ensure that a conviction, especially for a minor offense, does not lead to unintended and severe consequences like deportation, which can be unfair, tear families apart and destabilize our communities and businesses. In Brooklyn, we have been proactive in protecting immigrants from fraud and hate crimes and now, with the unprecedented hiring of immigration attorneys and the implementation of this policy, we continue to lead on this important issue.”[More]

Eric Gonzalez is a Puerto Rican, born an American citizen…who was a member of the Latino Law Students Association in college.

Crime, especially immigrant crime, has long been a problem in New York City and New York State. What has also long been a problem is corruption, especially ethnic/immigrant corruption.

I would advise the Trump Administration and DHS to take no notice of pardons issued by the Governor of New York State.

James Fulford has been writing about the national question for over 20 years, mostly for VDARE.com, more recently for White Papers. Subscribe to his personal Substack here.