Federal immigration authorities have deported Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national who had been convicted of raping a 10-year-old girl and was later pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Vang's removal from the United States on Friday.
DHS criticized Governor Walz's decision to pardon Vang, stating that the action was an apparent attempt to prevent his deportation. "While Walz and his fellow sanctuary politicians fight to protect heinous criminals like this, we will continue putting the safety of the American people FIRST," DHS stated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented on the case, announcing Vang's removal. "Just weeks ago, a convicted sex offender and foreign national was shielded from deportation by the governor of Minnesota," Rubio said in a video posted on X. He added that Vang had been convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a child and had attempted to pay the victim for her silence, calling his crimes a "minor thing."
Vang was photographed being escorted onto a plane by two ICE agents on Friday afternoon. It remains unclear if he was deported to Laos or another destination.
Governor Walz issued the pardon on June 10, which drew widespread criticism and was described as "disgusting" by DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis. Rubio condemned the pardon as a dereliction of duty, stating, "Because of our action, this foreign criminal will never pose a threat to any American ever again."
Vang entered the U.S. illegally in 1994 and was granted legal status under the Clinton administration. His legal status was revoked in 2006 after his conviction for the repeated sexual abuse of a child between 2002 and 2005. He received a final removal order that same year but remained in the country until federal agents took him into custody following Rubio's action to revoke his legal status. Vang's pardon application was reportedly granted by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Governor Walz after they reviewed a letter from the victim. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the pardon "horrific," stating, "These are the illegal alien criminals sanctuary politicians like Tim Walz are protecting over American citizens."