FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Fresno father and restaurant manager who has been detained by ICE for months has been pardoned.
On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom granted clemency to Psalm Behpoor and 15 for for their past crimes.
Behpoor was taken into ICE custody at the end of June while going to an immigration appointment. He’s spent the last four months behind bars at a detention facility in Bakersfield.
Newsom’s letter says the grantees were recommended for clemency by law enforcement officers, teachers, elected officials, and other community and religious leaders.
The document goes on to say that a clemency grant recognizes the grantee’s self-development and accountability after conviction.
In Behpoor’s case, his crime occurred at age 18, and he says he served time for non-aggravated burglary, which is no longer considered a deportable felony.
Fresno immigration attorney George Rios says although this latest development offers Behpoor a glimmer of hope, there is still a lengthy legal battle ahead.
“It’s not a guarantee — nothing is guaranteed, not even a guarantee he’ll be out on bond,” Rios said. “What it is is another basis, another argument that an attorney can make to say that, legally speakin,g his removal order should be reopened and he should be allowed to remain in the country because the main reason why he was placed in those proceedings is now gone.”
In May, Behpoor had filed paperwork to reinstate his green card and continue his path to citizenship. Newsom’s office received Behpoor’s pardon application back in October.
Rios says Behpoor’s legal team may be considering filing a motion to reopen his case as its next step and hoping to get a favorable outcome.
At the time of his detainment, Behpoor was working as the manager of Pismo’s in northwest Fresno for 10 years.
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