New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued more than five dozen pardons and commutations on Wednesday, including several to people who were facing immigration-related legal issues.
A news release from Cuomo's office revealed that 39 conditional youth pardons and 18 pardons to immigrants were issued. In addition, two commutations were granted.
"These New Yorkers have proved their rehabilitation, in some cases for decades, but have been unable to gain legal status or fully reenter society due to the stigma of conviction," Cuomo said. "While the federal government continues to target immigrants and threatens to tear families apart with deportation, these actions take a critical step toward a more just, more fair, and more compassionate New York."
It's unclear how many of the 18 immigrants pardoned have illegal status, but all of them were facing deportation because of their convictions.
A Democrat, Cuomo has pushed back on the Trump administration's immigration policies and orders. In September, he signed a directive that prohibits state agencies from seeking immigration status information from people.
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