It would probably be better described as amnesty. I know the word pardon was used in reference to this, probably because it derives from the president's constit

It would probably be better described as amnesty. I know the word pardon was used in reference to this, probably because it derives from the president's constitutional pardon power, which was interpreted by the SCOTUS to also include granting amnesty. But the petition should really be a petition for amnesty, not a pardon unless he's successfully convicted and all avenues of appeals have failed.