California Gov. Gavin Newsom is under fire from the Department of Homeland Security after pardoning a Cambodian national DHS says was convicted of attempted murder and assault with a firearm.
DHS warned the move could help him avoid deportation and stay in the state.
In a release on Monday, DHS said the man, Somboon Phaymany, lost his green card because of the convictions and was ordered removed from the U.S. by an immigration judge in 2019.
But Newsom's pardon could allow Phaymany to reopen immigration proceedings rather than be deported, DHS said.
"Governor Newsom pardoning an illegal alien convicted of attempted murder, so he can remain in our country, is absolute insanity," Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement. "These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his sanctuary politicians are protecting.
"He is putting the lives of all Americans at risk."
McLaughlin said the pardon "took away this attempted murderer's qualifying convictions that made him removable from the U.S."
DHS framed the pardon as part of a broader pattern, arguing that California's policies on this issue and local refusals to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement have allowed thousands of criminal illegal aliens to be released back onto the streets.
Under President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS said ICE is ramping up efforts to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens — but asserted that California jurisdictions continue to block detainer requests.
As of Feb. 6, DHS said ICE had 33,179 active detainers for criminal illegal aliens held in local, state, and federal custody in California. DHS also said 4,561 detainers have not been honored and the aliens have been released in the state since Jan. 20, 2025.
DHS said the crimes tied to those released include 31 homicides, 661 assaults, 574 burglaries, 184 robberies, 1,489 drug offenses, 379 weapons offenses, and 234 sexual predatory offenses.
"Governor Newsom could end this madness and call on every jurisdiction to honor ICE detainers," DHS said. "Instead, he continues to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over the safety of Californians."
DHS also listed examples of cases it said show the public-safety consequences of refusing detainers.
The department cited Hector Grijalba-Sernas, a Mexican national arrested on allegations involving lewd acts with a child under 14; Xujin An, a Chinese national arrested on allegations including sexual penetration with force and sexual battery; and Victor Hernandez-Jiron, a Salvadoran national arrested on allegations including attempted murder and domestic-violence offenses.
Others named in the release included Angel Navarro Camarillo, described by DHS as a La Familia gang member; Raphael Arturovich Gevorgyan, described as an Armenian Power gang member with prior convictions for crimes including voluntary manslaughter; and Carmelo Corado Hurtado, a Guatemalan national who DHS said was convicted of murder and robbery.
A spokesperson for Newsom, a Democrat, told Newsmax in a statement:
"The same people who turned the pardon power into a rewards program for political loyalists and the rich don't get to lecture anyone about clemency. In California, it's a transparent, rigorous legal process, focused on individualized review of each applicant's rehabilitation and public safety considerations – not political favors. Spare us the outrage."
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.