In what sounds like another The Babylon Bee headline, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently pardoned 13 immigrants, including an illegal alien who shot and killed a man more than 30 years ago to prevent his deportation.
Laotian national Somchith Vatthanavong, 52, was convicted of manslaughter as a teenager after he fatally shot a man during a pool hall confrontation in Brooklyn, arguing it was self-defense, The New York Times reported.
But Hochul believes he deserves clemency and to continue living illegally in the U.S. despite his violent criminal record. She added, “And to those who would demonize them to score political points, I ask: Where is your compassion?”
The U.S. Homeland Security Department called out Hochul on social media, noting Vatthanavong’s rap sheet, for protecting criminal illegal aliens and allowing them to stay in the country.
.@GovKathyHochul, your shameful secret is out.
Rather than putting New Yorkers first, you’re protecting a criminal illegal alien KILLER with a rap sheet including convictions for manslaughter and criminal possession of a firearm.
If you are a convicted criminal alien, you… pic.twitter.com/anXAXECvjg
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 16, 2025
“@GovKathyHochul, your shameful secret is out,” the DHS wrote in a social media post on X. “Rather than putting New Yorkers first, you’re protecting a criminal illegal alien KILLER with a rap sheet including convictions for manslaughter and criminal possession of a firearm.”
According to the New York Times, Vatthanavong entered the United States illegally and reportedly came to the U.S. after the Vietnam War, Niagara Action Media reported.
Vatthanavong said he acted in self-defense during a fight outside a pool hall that turned deadly. He was convicted of manslaughter in 1990 and served 14 years in prison, according to published reports.
Hochul recently granted pardons to more than a dozen migrants with decades-old criminal convictions, including Vatthanavong, according to Niagara Action Media.
The pardons included lawful permanent residents originally from Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and South Africa. It remains unclear how many, aside from Vatthanavong, entered the country illegally.
Defending her decision, Hochul said in the Niagara Action report, “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.”
Following his conviction, Vatthanavong received deportation orders by an immigration judge. However, he was never deported because Laos has long refused to cooperate with U.S. deportation efforts, Niagara Action Media reported.
After his release from prison, Vatthanavong remained in New York City but never became an American citizen.
Vatthanavong had an immigration appointment set for July 1 under the new administration, until Hochul intervened.
The far-left governor who doles out taxpayer money to support illegal immigrants issued an unconditional pardon that includes “relief from removal.”
Unlike commutations, which shorten prison sentences, pardons in these cases do not erase convictions but instead prevent other consequences such as protect them from deportation.
“If you are a convicted criminal alien, you should not have the privilege to be in this country,” the DHS post continued. “President Trump and @Sec_Noem will continue fighting to protect every American citizen and remove the worst of the worst from our nation.”
The pardons represent a shift from Hochul’s prior stance, Niagara Action Media reported.
Earlier this year, her office told Congress, “There is no sanctuary in New York for people who commit crimes. New York is committed to cracking down on gang members and violent criminals, and State officials cooperate with ICE and CBP in many circumstances.”
In her statement following The New York Times report, Hochul said, “After careful deliberation, I’m granting clemency to thirteen individuals who have demonstrated remorse for their actions and exemplify a commitment to bettering their communities.”
