Committee hears bill to expedite clemency review for people facing deportation

The House Community Safety Committee held a public hearing Thursday, March 27, 2025, on Senate Bill 5103, which would require the Clemency and Pardons Board to consider expedited review of petitions for pardons or commutations when petitioners indicate an urgent need, including pending deportation proceedings.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Bob Hasegawa, said the measure would create a faster pathway for long-term Washington residents who face immediate removal from the United States. “What this bill does is open up a pathway that the Clemency and Pardons Board needs to consider, whether to have a hearing. It doesn't say that they have to have a hearing,” Hasegawa said, arguing the change would allow the board to respond when deportation timelines outpace ordinary review.

Lina Langer,…