Gavin Newsom pardons criminal illegal migrant Somboon Phaymany

California Governor Gavin Newsom pardoned a convicted attempted murderer who was an undocumented illegal immigrant, opening the possibility for him staying in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Somboon Phaymany was convicted of numerous charges, including attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, assault with a firearm, and conspiracy to commit assault with a firearm after a judge sentenced him in 1997 to 14 years to life.

In December 2025, Newsom pardoned him for transforming his life and providing “evidence that he is living an upright life and has demonstrated his fitness for restoration of civic rights and responsibilities.”

DHS said the pardon allows Phaymany to “re-open immigration proceedings rather than be removed from the U.S. and will be able to remain in California communities.”

“Governor Newsom pardoning an illegal alien convicted of attempted murder, so he can remain in our country is absolute INSANITY,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “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 was 19 at the time of his conviction, lost his green card and was placed in removal proceedings and issued a final order of removal by a judge in 2019.

“Gavin Newsom’s pardon took away this attempted murderer’s qualifying convictions that made him removable from the U.S.,” McLaughlin said.

Phaymany applied for executive clemency early last year.

“This act of clemency for Mr. Phaymany does not minimize or forgive his conduct or the harm it caused. It does recognize the work he has done since to transform himself,” Newsom wrote in the pardon notice.

The California Post has reached out to the governor’s office for comment.

Earlier this month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent a letter to Newsom and the state attorney general urging them to stop “sanctuary” policies that allow criminal undocumented immigrants to walk out of jails and back onto the streets.

The letter asked whether the state would be complying with immigration detainers — requests to local law enforcement to hold an undocumented immigrant who is about to be released from custody after an arrest or upon completion of a sentence.

The federal government alleges that at least 4,500 undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds have been released back onto American streets by California.