Let this patriot stay

Separated from his U.S.-citizen wife and teen daughter, suffering afflictions of his lungs and his gut, 9/11 responder Carlos Cardona languishes behind bars in a New Jersey jail, set to be deported after 31 years. All because, 27 years ago, Cardona sold a small quantity of cocaine to an undercover cop.

But Gov. Cuomo Wednesday pardoned Cardona for that offense. This rare act of justified mercy wiped from the books any blot on Cardona’s record. For legal purposes, his conviction has disappeared.

Which means the feds and President Trump must now relent in their push to remove Cardona from the country. For not only is this action cruel, unwarranted and contrary to American values, it is based on a legal rationale that no longer exists.

Born in Colombia, long of Queens, Cardona sacrificed his health as a hazmat and cleanup worker at Ground Zero, volunteering at Ground Zero to aid his adopted nation in a moment of crisis.

His payback for that patriotism: pending deportation for that long-ago offense.

We do not stand against all deportations. We say good riddance to illegal immigrants who are true threats. Gangbangers, killers, rapists. The “bad hombres” of which Trump speaks are not a figment of his imagination.

Common decency shouts that Cardona is not among them. He has over many years proved himself a dedicated American. He has worked hard, in construction. Raised a family. Paid his taxes.

And Cardona heaved and hauled wreckage at the hellpit of Ground Zero for four long months, breathing in toxic air that surely took its toll.

Here, he can get high-quality treatment for resulting acute respiratory problems, PTSD and other ailments. Not so in Colombia.

Cuomo’s removal of the conviction will let Cardona appeal his deportation order.

This man is not a symbol or an example. He is a husband and a father whose family deserves better. Who now, in the eyes of the law, has no criminal record.

Mr. President, see his humanity. Exercise sensible discretion. Let Carlos Cardona stay.