Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz pardons illegal migrant convicted of sexually assaulting 10-year-old girl

Minnesota officials, led by Democratic Governor Tim Walz, made headlines last month when they pardoned an illegal immigrant who had been convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and was facing deportation. The decision to grant a pardon for Laos national Tou Lue Vang, 42, was made at a June 10 meeting of the Minnesota Board of Pardons, with the recommendation of the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission (CRC).

The pardon effectively wipes Vang’s slate clean, despite his conviction in 2006 for first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Over a span of four years, between 2002 and 2006, Vang repeatedly sexually assaulted the young girl, even offering her money to keep quiet about the abuse. He pleaded guilty to the charges in a plea deal that kept him out of prison.

In a letter to Vang informing him of the decision, Carli Stark, the executive director of the state CRC, commended him for the work he had done since his conviction, calling the pardon a “notable achievement.” However, the decision to pardon Vang has sparked controversy and outrage, with Acting Assistant Secretary of DHS, Lauren Bis, condemning Governor Walz for pardoning a convicted child rapist to allow him to stay in the country.

Vang lost his legal status following his conviction, and the decision to pardon him has raised questions about the protection of criminal illegal aliens by sanctuary policies in Minnesota. Vang’s case is not the first of its kind, as the Review Commission has previously granted pardons to undocumented immigrants. In a similar case in May, the state pardoned Jai Vang, a Laotian citizen with a criminal history that includes robbery, armed robbery of a business, and driving under the influence.

The decision to pardon Vang comes amidst ongoing debates over sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement in Minnesota. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of Governor Walz and Minnesota officials for their sanctuary policies, which shield illegal immigrants, even those convicted of violent crimes, from federal authorities. Vang’s case has reignited the debate over immigration policies and the treatment of criminal immigrants in the United States.