CA a 'sanctuary' for illegal felons, too

An immigration watchdog says it's not surprising that California's left-wing governor has pardoned a pair of illegal immigrants, one of them with a felony conviction for firearms possession.

"There is hardly a day goes by when California isn't doing something to protect illegal aliens, including criminal aliens," observes Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Awash with an estimated 2.3 million illegals, California has already declared itself a "sanctuary state" with a new state law that bars state authorities from cooperating with federal immigration laws.

On top of that ongoing feud, Gov. Jerry Brown has pardoned two illegals from Cambodia who were picked up in October in immigration sweeps, The Sacramento Bee reported.  

Mony Neth was convicted on a felony weapons charge in 1995, with a gang enhancement, and for receiving stolen property.

Rottanak Kong was convicted of felony joyriding and served a year in jail.

The pardons were among several the governor signed as part of an annual Christmas tradition.

Both men were scheduled to be deported Dec. 18 but a judge halted that due to a lawsuit, the Bee reported.

Mehlman says even legal immigrants, if they are convicted of a crime, can be deported. 

"If you are here in violation of your immigration status," he says, "whether it's because you're in the country illegally or because you're a legal resident of the United States but have violated the terms of your presence here in the United States, you can be removed."