Gov. Gavin Newsom, AG Rob Bonta. (Photo: gov.ca.gov/2024)
Newsom Pardons Convicted Attempted Murder Illegal Alien, Shields Him From Deportation
Since January 2026, sanctuary policies under Newsom have led to the release of 4,561 criminal illegal aliens into California communities
By Megan Barth, February 23, 2026 10:52 am
In a blistering statement released Monday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned California Governor Gavin Newsom for pardoning Somboon Phaymany, a Cambodian national and illegal alien convicted of attempted murder and assault with a firearm — crimes that stripped him of his green card and triggered a final order of removal.
ABSOLUTE INSANITY.
Gavin Newsom pardoned an illegal alien convicted of ATTEMPTED MURDER.
Somboon Phaymany lost his green card following his conviction for attempted murder and assault with a firearm. Following the conviction, he was placed in removal proceedings and issued a… pic.twitter.com/4q6SNHlIAp
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 23, 2026
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin did not mince words: “Governor Newsom pardoning an illegal alien convicted of attempted murder, so he can remain in our country, is absolute INSANITY. These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his sanctuary politicians are protecting. He is putting the lives of all Americans at risk.”
Phaymany, who entered the U.S. legally but lost his green card after his convictions, was sentenced in 1997 in San Diego to 14 years to life for 10 counts of premeditated attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, assault with a firearm, and conspiracy to commit assault with a firearm. The crimes stemmed from a gang-related drive-by shooting when he was 19. An immigration judge issued a final removal order against him in 2019.
Newsom’s pardon erases those qualifying convictions for immigration purposes, allowing Phaymany to reopen proceedings and remain in California communities rather than face deportation by ICE.
This is not an isolated incident. As the California Globe previously reported in February, DHS and ICE urged Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta to honor more than 33,000 active ICE detainers for criminal illegal aliens in California custody — a direct plea to stop the revolving door of releases that endangers public safety.
Since January 2026, sanctuary policies under Newsom have led to the release of 4,561 criminal illegal aliens into California communities, including individuals with convictions or charges for 31 homicides, 661 assaults, and hundreds of other violent and serious offenses, according to DHS data.
This pardon fits a disturbing pattern of California’s obstruction of federal immigration enforcement. In December 2025, DHS launched its “Worst of the Worst” webpage highlighting criminal aliens arrested by ICE, with California accounting for thousands of entries.
Just last week, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass escalated the standoff by banning ICE from staging operations on city property.
Federal courts continue to push back against California’s anti-enforcement agenda: A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the state’s discriminatory mask ban on federal agents, and the Ninth Circuit blocked the state’s entire “No Secret Police Act” in major victories for the Trump DOJ.
DHS’s statement underscores what Californians have long known: Newsom’s sanctuary state policies prioritize criminal illegal aliens over law-abiding residents. With President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ramping up enforcement, this pardon is yet another example of Sacramento Democrats choosing chaos over safety.
- Newsom Pardons Convicted Attempted Murder Illegal Alien, Shields Him From Deportation - February 23, 2026
- RNC Petitions Supreme Court to Uphold Arizona Voters’ Mandate for Proof-of-Citizenship Requirement - February 20, 2026
- Ninth Circuit Blocks California’s Entire ‘No Secret Police Act’ in Major Win for Trump DOJ - February 20, 2026
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It’s not Christmas; what is Newsome’s reasoning for the pardon?
Guess this just proves the 960 SAT score. SMH
Interesting to watch people in other states have NORMAL reactions of outrage in response to Newsom’s routine barbarities. How many thousands of prison inmates has he released — just because — during his time as governor?
Remember also how surprised the rest of the country was to know that ILLEGALS were all signed up for MediCal and getting free health care because of Newsom? Many said “no, you can’t do that, it can’t be true!” and didn’t believe it. We need to collect every stupid and suicidal thing Newsom does from now on and post them all again endlessly after they have faded from the public’s memory. Two of them are here at today’s Globe: The pandering racist incident in Georgia and the pardon of a violent illegal in a screw-you-and-your-safety act of contempt towards Californians. Collect them all!
Gov. Dumbdumb is at it again with complete stupidity. This is what happens when you elect stupid people to office.
Did Californian voters really elect a greasy slimeball dimwit like Newsom, or more likely, was he installed and kept in office with Democrat voter fraud and rigged voting machines? Is Newsom really the one making these insane decisions, or is he taking orders from some nefarious characters who control him like gang leaders, cartel bosses, CCP, WEF globalists, etc.?
Newsom doesn’t want to deport his voting constituency, or lose another voter to place their congressional seat count at risk…..
Complete and utter FAILURE and abrogation of fiduciary duty….
Oh LOOK – it’s the ‘Greaser Gang”, Newsom & Bonta, the two SLIMIEST politicians in modern California history….
Here we go again. Hey REPUBLICANS, please try, CONVICT and JAIL this blatantly obvious TRAITOR to the USA right now. There’s NO more time to waste! How much Clearer can it it be that GAVIN is a blatantly Obvious TRAITOR to the USA? The USA and California is in GRAVE DANGER and it’s way past time to DO SOMETHING-ANYTHING!
also, the ENTIRE western USA coast is very Vulnerable and WIDE OPEN to INVASION and WITHOUT GAS-oil because of TREASONOUS LEFTISTS and SPINELESS republicans. We’re in Serious trouble. After all, how can our Own MILITARY respond to anything WITHOUT Gas-oil?
Newscum can only pardon crimes committed under State Law. He hasn’t got the authority to pardon anyone who has broken Federal Law. Coming here illegally is a crime under Federal law.
He is too busy to bring about solutions to our issues he helped create yet has the time to pardon an illegal killer! Shameful and very telling!
He sure is showing who his loyalties are to!
Anyone but California citizens!!
Newsom is a traitor to this country.