Sanctuary politicians in Minnesota have pardoned an illegal immigrant convicted in 2005 of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, potentially shielding him from being deported back to Laos.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons, which is made up of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, unanimously voted to pardon Tou Lue Vang, 42, on June 10, The New York Times reported.
Vang was ordered to be deported in 2006 following his first-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction for abusing the girl between 2002 and 2004, but remained in the U.S. on supervised release because Laos would not accept deportees, according to the Times. Vang, who did not serve prison time under a plea deal, reportedly defended himself at the time, saying it was “a cultural thing.”
Governor Tim Walz is facing backlash after Minnesota's Board of Pardons voted to pardon a man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, that conviction was the basis for the man's deportation, and the pardon… pic.twitter.com/z0j9HxSqaQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 2, 2026
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the pardon could “thwart” Vang’s deportation and ripped Walz in a statement on Wednesday.
“Governor Tim Walz’s decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said. “These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting.”
Vang was detained in December as part of Operation Metro Surge in the state.
According to DHS, Vang came to the U.S. in 1994 during the Clinton administration and was granted legal status, which was revoked after his conviction. The pardon now wipes away his conviction.
“Tou Lue Vang lost his legal status following his conviction for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl. Following the conviction, he was placed in removal proceedings and issued a final order of removal by a judge,” Bis added. “This pardon will take away this child rapist’s qualifying convictions that made him removable from the United States.”
.@GovTimWalz and Minnesota sanctuary politicians PARDONED an illegal alien who REPEATEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED A 10-YEAR-OLD.
On June 10, the Minnesota Board of Pardons voted to grant Tou Lue Vang, from Laos, a pardon for his 2006 convictions for sexual assault—strongarm sodomy… pic.twitter.com/RErAWX2sp6
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 1, 2026
The victim who was 10 at the time when Vang, then 18, began abusing her, submitted a letter supporting his pardon, the Times reported. Vang said in his pardon application he carries “shame and regret” for his actions.
Walz and Ellison pointed to the victim’s letter of support as a reason they approved clemency.
“The Minnesota Board of Pardons made a unanimous decision to grant Tou Vang this pardon after an exhaustive process which included a statement of support for the pardon from the victim, a recommendation to grant the pardon from the Clemency Review Commission and a large number of community support letters,” Ellison’s office told the Times.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the pardon “horrific” in a social media post.
“This evil alien from Laos repeatedly sexually assaulted a 10 year old child,” he said. “These are the illegal alien criminals sanctuary politicians like Tim Walz are protecting over American citizens.”
.@GovTimWalz’s decision to PARDON an illegal alien child rapist is horrific.
This evil alien from Laos repeatedly sexually assaulted a 10 year old child.
These are the illegal alien criminals sanctuary politicians like Tim Walz are protecting over American citizens. https://t.co/gEpvmjCAYq
— Secretary Markwayne Mullin (@SecMullinDHS) July 2, 2026
