Cuomo Pardons 7 Facing Deportation For Past Convictions

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Seven people who faced deportation because of crimes committed years ago were pardoned Monday by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The seven individuals include a mother of three, a grandfather and a man battling cancer. All seven had minor, non-violent convictions that in some cases date back decades but their criminal records made them targets for deportation, Cuomo said. He said the pardons would make it harder for federal immigration officials to continue deportation proceedings.

"We're doing everything we can to frustrate their efforts," Cuomo said of the Trump administration and its aggressive immigration enforcement.

Cuomo has issued similar pardons before, including 18 in December.

The list includes six men and one woman. They include a 57-year-old grandfather who was convicted of drug possession and intoxicated driving nearly 20 years ago and a 41-year-old man from who tried to become a citizen only to learn he was ineligible because of a 2009 conviction for petit larceny. Both men are from the Dominican Republic.