Governor Cuomo has been in office for less than a week and already he is being asked whether he will continue the immigration pardon panel that Governor Paterson created last year.
Last year, Governor Paterson created the immigration pardon panel to review the cases of immigrants who faced automatic removal from the United States following minor criminal convictions. The panel was created in May and the Governor eventually granted pardons to 30 immigrants. Governor Paterson created the program to combat what he saw as “unjust” immigration laws.
As Attorney General, Cuomo led a push against unauthorized immigration law providers who have long victimized New Yorkers. However, he has been silent about whether he will extend the immigration pardon panel.
America is known as the land of second chances. Why shouldn’t Governor Cuomo keep the immigration pardon panel going? It will flush out the cases of deserving immigrants and would make the job of the Governor much easier. Additionally, Governor Cuomo will have the last say in any immigration pardon application.