May 19, 2017 04:20 PM UTC

Hickenlooper Pardons Rene Lima-Marin While Brauchler Fumes

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Bad news via 9NEWS’ Marshall Zelinger:

Based on new ICE response, appears that the plan is still to deport Rene Lima-Marin. #coleg #copolitics #renelimamarin pic.twitter.com/wJ23TO5Yid

— Marshall Zelinger (@MarshallZSays) May 19, 2017

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The Denver Post’s Kevin Simpson reporting, Gov. John Hickenlooper took swift action this afternoon to prevent the deportation of Rene Lima-Marin, a Cuban immigrant whose criminal case became a cause célèbre for state legislators before they realized he was subject to deportation:

Gov. John Hickenlooper said Friday he has issued an extraordinary pardon for Rene Lima-Marin, who was mistakenly released early from a long prison sentence only to be sent back after he had forged a productive new life as a husband and father.

Lima-Marin was freed from his Colorado prison sentence earlier this week and then held by federal immigration authorities. State lawmakers, Lima-Marin’s family and others had urged the governor to act quickly to prevent what they feared would be imminent deportation to his native Cuba…

“We thought it through well,” Hickenlooper said, pointing to bipartisan unity in the state legislature resolution that called for clemency. He added that it would be a “terrible symbol” to snatch away Lima-Marin’s freedom once again.

Asked what he hopes happens to Lima-Marin now, the governor said: “I hope he doesn’t get deported.”

The governor added that with the pardon, he has done everything he can at this point to stop deportation.

We noted yesterday how at least one GOP lawmaker was still fighting for Lima-Marin’s freedom even after it came out that he was subject to deportation for the crime he originally committed–though we were waiting to hear from others to know if this was as unanimous as the original resolution calling for Lima-Marin’s release was.

Post-pardon, GOP gubernatorial candidate George Brauchler is making it painfully clear he does not approve:

A three-time robber gets to skip to the front of a long line of more deserving folks for a photo-op. #Lima-Marin https://t.co/F7TAAdqX2q

— George Brauchler (@GeorgeBrauchler) May 19, 2017

A convicted 3 time robber and kidnapper gets @GovofCO 1st pardon in 6+ years? Victims consulted? Pardon was to defeat #immigration law. https://t.co/Qln7BD1JTv

— George Brauchler (@GeorgeBrauchler) May 19, 2017

I would not issue a pardon intended solely to defeat Federal immigration law. https://t.co/wUQVenLkVE

— George Brauchler (@GeorgeBrauchler) May 19, 2017

So…we assume there’s a big disagreement here between Brauchler and the entire Republican caucus in the Colorado General Assembly? That’s what we have to assume until we see some more statements from Republican lawmakers. It’s going to be difficult for Brauchler to make much political hay out of this unless a bunch of silent Republicans who were in support of Lima-Marin’s freedom come out with a different opinion now.

As for Gov. Hickenlooper, it’s true that he has now done everything he can. If President Trump wants to make a political martyr of a man who has already been through a bizarre and painful mistake in the criminal justice system, it’s his fire to play with.

And now, George Brauchler’s too.