Gov. John Hickenlooper’s decision to pardon Rene Lima-Marin Friday sends a clear message to federal officials now considering the much-wronged man’s deportation. We hope ICE gets that message, and joins in the effort to finally provide Lima-Marin justice, and with it freedom.

Colorado’s three branches of state government – its legislative, judicial and executive – have now spoken out in clearest terms. It is time to do right by Lima-Marin. What an insult to decency it would be to once again subject him to grave injustice as a result of cruel technicalities.

Lima-Marin is being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementofficials following his dramatic release from state prison earlier this week.

Because his parents brought him here from Cuba when he was 2 years old – as part of a massive refugee boatlift – his criminal conviction makes him fair game for deportation in the current crackdown mindset within the Trump administration.

Read more at The Denver Post.