Posted on 04/25/2025 11:07:17 AM PDT by Twotone
'They can’t wait two years for a hearing. They need ... relief right away.'
Illegal aliens with criminal convictions in Washington state may soon get an "expedited review" of their application for a pardon or commutation from the governor, thanks to a bill passed exclusively by Democrats.
In the last few weeks, both the Washington state House and Senate have passed H.B. 1131, making it ready to send along to the desk of Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson. While the bill addresses a number of issues related to pardons and clemency, it specifically sends those at risk of deportation to the head of the case review line.
"If a petitioner indicates in the petition an urgent need for the pardon or commutation including, but not limited to, a pending deportation order or deportation proceeding, the board shall consider expedited review of the application," it reads.
The bill sailed through the House, 50-46, with no Republicans voting for it and only seven Democrats voting against it. Democrats also carried the bill through the Senate, with 28 voting for it and 19 Republicans opposing it.
The bill is particularly outrageous because it gives illegal aliens and other noncitizens who committed crimes in the U.S. better access to the Washington Clemency and Pardons Board, which has limited availability. As it currently stands, the board is composed of five unpaid members who are able to undertake only about 30 cases per year, according to the Washington State Standard.
Under this bill, incarcerated U.S. citizens seeking a pardon or commutation would apparently have to take a back seat.
"I don’t think what our forefathers envisioned was moving one group above the other when it comes to justice," said state Sen. Leonard Christian (R-Spokane Valley). "Everybody in this state, in this country, deserves equal justice in the same amount of time."
Republican state Rep. Jim Walsh, the chair of the Washington GOP, claimed in a statement to the Post Millennial that H.B. 1131 goes so far as to treat "criminals as if they were victims," an upending of justice that has since become a "recent fashion in 'progressive' circles."
Statements from liberals about H.B. 1131 seem to bear him out.
"If they’ve paid their dues to society, they shouldn’t be deported," claimed state Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle), who proposed a similar measure in the Senate.
Jennie Pasquarella, legal director of Seattle Clemency Project, noted that all immigration cases, especially those related to deportation, are "very time-sensitive" and implied that noncitizens are therefore more deserving of expedited consideration.
"They can’t wait two years for a hearing," she claimed. "They need, they need the relief right away."
Pasquarella then made the wild suggestion that noncitizens often commit victimless crimes that aren't that "serious."
"There’s a lot of crimes now that make [deportation] mandatory where there is no victim involved — most people would not consider to be serious — but yet they impose this really drastic consequence," she said.
The Standard indicated that such crimes relate to "drug, theft, and burglary" — "felonies" that the outlet nonetheless characterized as "nonviolent." Approximately 87,000 Americans died of a drug overdose between October 2023 and September 2024.
Of note, between 90% and 95% of criminal cases in the U.S. are resolved via plea bargaining, which often involves defendants pleading guilty to lesser charges. In other words, the offenders may be responsible for other, more severe crimes that at least indirectly involve victims, but prosecutors permit them to accept responsibility for lesser crimes to secure a conviction.
State Rep. Walsh understands the problem well, insisting that H.B. 1131 "undermines public safety in Washington" and "puts law-abiding people at risk."
H.B. 1131 would also expand the review board to 10 members who would be compensated at least for travel expenses related to their board activities.
Blaze News reached out to Gov. Ferguson, inquiring whether he intends to sign the bill, but did not receive a response.
Nice of Washington state to ID these people and give them a false sense of security as I’m sure Homan’s people will deport them as a result. Apparently, the Democrat ounces never heard of the “Supremacy Clause” in the Constitution.
Exactly. More political theater.
“I doubt very much that a State Governor can pardon an illegal who has violated Federal law.”
This is about state convictions.
Man, you people are going to regret this one.
What would need to be done is all the other states say they will no longer recognize any of Washington State’s documents, licenses or illegal alien citizens even if the Aunt Teefah State provides to them to fly alongside their Mexican flag. If their illegals leave the state, they will still be subject to deportation if found in deportation states.
It is amazing how many Americans don’t seem to mind being second-class citizens in their OWN country...
no pardon for fed crimes but erasing a state crime could make the alien non-deportable
i should clarify ordinary illegal aliens are deportable...but lawful resident aliens can only be deported for certain things like cimt crimes involving moral turpitude thus they might be saved by a pardon...
Blondi is all over this malfeasance, as soon as there is an opening in her busy Fox news schedule.
I do not believe a State governor can pardon Federal crimes.
Remember how much they cheered when USSC overturned Arizona and Texas laws, because States cannot usurp Federal immigration law?
What goes around, comes around.
“If they’ve paid their dues to society, they shouldn’t be deported,” claimed state Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle), who proposed a similar measure in the Senate.
Why destroy the constitution when you can just bypass it and make it useless comrades.
Democrat democracy in action
How can he be non-deportable when he still has the Federal crime of coming here illegally on the books? He’s still here illegally.
Ummm, no
The Democeratic party continues to commit national suicide.
Criminal privilege.
OMG! There’s got to be a way to deport these criminals over the objections of the demoncRAT state govt.
But, don’t forget, Federal law “Trumps” state law?
Everyone who participated in this violation of federal immigration statues needs to be rounded up and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
It should be fairly easy to determine exactly who they are.
(ie. the RATs)
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