Blong Yang/Laos/Sexual Exploitation Of Minor

Laotian national Blong Yang, a criminal illegal alien, was detained by immigration officers in Lakeland, Minnesota, after officials highlighted a prior fourth‑degree sexual assault conviction linked to exploitation of a younger victim. Public statements from federal officials describe Yang as a “violent convicted criminal,” noting that his record includes a 1997 fourth‑degree sexual assault case, earlier theft convictions, and a concealed‑weapon offense, all of which were reviewed when he was picked up by ICE on his way to work in 2025.

Following his arrest in Lakeland, Yang was held in federal custody for more than two months while his decades‑old convictions and long residence in the United States were scrutinized in the immigration system. Advocacy groups later reported that he was released in July 2025 pending further review, but his underlying sexual‑assault record remains central to any future proceedings that could determine whether he is ultimately removed to Laos.