Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as part of a three-person panel, has granted a pardon to Tou Lue Vang, 42, an immigrant convicted of raping a 10-year-old child. The pardon prevents Vang's deportation to Laos.
Vang had admitted to sexually abusing the child and pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Under the terms of his plea deal, he avoided jail time but faced deportation due to his conviction. The pardon, issued by Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Chief Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson, effectively wipes his conviction from his record.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security called the pardon "disgusting," stating that Vang had lost his legal status following his conviction. The spokesperson added that the pardon removed the conviction and cleared Vang's record.
According to reports, Vang had submitted a letter to the pardon board expressing regret for his actions and requesting to remain in the United States with his wife and six children.
