Dems call on Obama to pardon green-card holders convicted of minor crimes

WASHINGTON – President Obama should pardon Green Card holders convicted of minor crimes en masse to shield them from deportation under President-elect Donald Trump, according to two New York Dems.

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-Brooklyn) and Rep. José E. Serrano (D-Bronx) are leading an effort to urge Obama to deliver relief in his final days in office to an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 residents.

“We write with great urgency to ask that you pardon all Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) who are legally deportable based solely on minor criminal offenses,” the lawmakers said in a letter to Obama Thursday.

Obama has not targeted such low-level offenders for deportation, and instead focused on undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes. He’s also shielded hundreds of thousands of other undocumented immigrants from deportation through executive actions — which Trump can undo.

Trump has pledged a crackdown on deportations and illegal immigration and campaigned on building a border wall with Mexico.

“There’s palpable fear in immigrant communities, particularly among some legal residents who are at risk of deportation due to small legal infractions, many of which happened a long time ago,” Velázquez said.

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Serrano worries minor crimes, such as jumping a turnstile, will subject immigrants to deportation.
“We can’t allow families in these circumstances to be torn apart, and President Obama could – with the stroke of a pen – provide these individuals with a degree of assurance.”

Immigrants – even those with green cards – can be deported if they violated US laws.

“Without action, these individuals could be forced to go back to a country they do not know and they may be separated from their spouses and children- leading to unnecessary emotional and economic harm, “ Serrano said.

“President Obama has previously used his executive authority to de-prioritize the deportation of these individuals. We’re asking that he use his pardon powers to ensure their safety and security beyond January 20th.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.