Governor of New York has created a special pardon panel to forgive individuals of state crimes that under federal law require expulsion from the U.S.

Criminal Aliens in N.Y. May Be Pardoned by Gov. Paterson

By Jim Kouri Saturday, May 22, 2010

In a move to shield criminally convicted immigrants from deportation, the governor of New York has created a special pardon panel to forgive individuals of state crimes that under federal law require expulsion from the U.S., according to a report from the public-interest group Judicial Watch.

Governor David Paterson is suffering from dismal poll numbers as low as 29 percent favorability. Critics claim he’s trying to duplicate a move by President Bill Clinton when he pardoned Puerto Rican terrorists who perpetrated bombings and killings in New York in order to help his wife, Hillary, in her race for New York’s U.S. Senate seat.

Paterson claims that he created the first-of-its kind initiative because federal immigration laws, particularly those involving deportation, are “extremely inflexibleâ€