Newsom PARDONS Gang Shooter — Deportation BLOCKED

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California Governor Gavin Newsom pardoned a Cambodian citizen convicted of 10 counts of premeditated attempted murder in a gang-related drive-by shooting, deliberately blocking federal immigration authorities from deporting him and prompting outrage from the Department of Homeland Security.

Story Snapshot

Newsom pardoned Somboon Phaymany on February 20, 2026, erasing his 1997 conviction for 10 counts of attempted murder and multiple firearm assault charges tied to a gang shooting
The pardon removes deportation grounds, preventing ICE from removing Phaymany despite two life sentences for the violent crime that involved 11 shots fired at a pool hall
DHS condemned the decision as “absolute insanity,” warning it puts American lives at risk by shielding violent criminals from immigration enforcement
This pardon is part of a disturbing pattern—Newsom has issued 247 pardons since 2019, frequently protecting convicted criminals from deportation under the guise of rehabilitation

Newsom’s Pardon Blocks Federal Deportation Efforts

Governor Newsom issued a pardon to Somboon Phaymany on February 20, 2026, wiping clean his 1997 conviction for 10 counts of premeditated attempted murder stemming from a March 1996 gang-related drive-by shooting. Phaymany, a Cambodian citizen who came to America as a child refugee, participated in the Oriental Boy Soldiers gang attack at a pool hall parking lot where 11 shots were fired. Though miraculously no one was injured, he received two life sentences with parole possibility plus enhancements for 18 counts of assault with a firearm and conspiracy charges. The pardon removes the legal basis for ICE to deport him by erasing the conviction that triggered his green card revocation.

Federal Officials Condemn California’s Protection of Violent Criminal

The Department of Homeland Security swiftly rebuked Newsom’s decision, with spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin calling it “absolute insanity” that puts American lives at risk. DHS emphasized that the pardon shields a violent criminal from rightful deportation, undermining federal immigration enforcement designed to protect public safety. This rebuke underscores the deepening conflict between California’s sanctuary state policies and the Trump administration’s commitment to removing dangerous foreign nationals. Newsom’s office deflected specific questions about the case, claiming pardons are reviewed “on merits,” yet this meritless justification ignores the reality that Phaymany was convicted of attempting to murder 10 people in a premeditated gang attack.

EXCLUSIVE: Newsom's latest pardon shields attempted murder convict from ICE deportation https://t.co/D8oCSiiuP5

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 21, 2026

Pattern of Clemency Undermines Immigration Law

Newsom has issued 247 pardons since 2019, with many specifically designed to block deportations of legal immigrants whose serious crimes triggered green card revocations. Cambodian nationals receive disproportionate clemency, reflecting political calculations rather than public safety concerns. In 2025, Newsom pardoned Cambodian Americans including Kang Hen for grand theft and Hay Hov for soliciting murder with gang ties, following requests from Oakland officials prioritizing family unity over accountability. This systematic pattern of pardoning violent offenders erodes federal immigration authority and signals to criminal aliens that California will shield them from consequences. The governor’s rehabilitation rhetoric rings hollow when applied to gang members who fired 11 shots at innocent people.

California’s Sanctuary Policies Enable Criminal Aliens

California’s sanctuary state framework deliberately obstructs ICE cooperation, creating safe havens for criminal aliens who should face deportation. Newsom’s clemency strategy aligns with leftist policies that prioritize illegal immigrants and convicted criminals over law-abiding citizens. ICE has repeatedly complained about California releasing violent offenders, including attempted murder suspects like Victor Hernandez-Jiron, directly back onto streets instead of transferring them to federal custody. Phaymany’s case exemplifies this dangerous ideology—he was detained by ICE in 2018 but released in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic policies, allowing him to remain free until Newsom’s pardon permanently blocked deportation. This undermines constitutional federal authority over immigration and puts communities at risk to serve progressive political agendas.

Long-Term Consequences for Public Safety and Federal Authority

The pardon establishes a troubling precedent that encourages hundreds of similar cases where state governors can nullify federal immigration enforcement by erasing state convictions. This directly weakens ICE’s ability to remove dangerous foreign nationals, redirecting limited resources away from other enforcement priorities. The Cambodian diaspora may benefit through family unity, but victims’ families and broader communities face heightened safety risks when violent gang members avoid deportation. Politically, this fuels the partisan divide between Trump’s federal enforcement and California’s resistance, demonstrating how leftist state policies actively sabotage national security. Newsom’s actions represent government overreach that subverts constitutional immigration powers, protecting criminals while leaving Americans vulnerable to preventable violence from those who should never have remained in our country.