Tim Walz board pardons convicted child rapist over deportation concerns

Key Points:

• A 42-year-old illegal immigrant, Tue Lue Vang, convicted of repeatedly raping a child starting when she was 10, was granted a full pardon by Minnesota's Board of Pardons following a clemency commission recommendation citing "immigration concerns."
• The Minnesota Clemency Review Commission voted 4-2 in favor of the pardon, with supporters emphasizing Vang’s remorse, rehabilitation, and the impact of deportation on his six children; the victim and Vang’s wife reportedly supported the pardon.
• Vang was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison but served only eight months in local confinement and was discharged from probation early in 2019; he faced deportation before the pardon was issued.
• The decision sparked strong criticism from federal officials, including Homeland Security and Senator Marco Rubio, who condemned the pardon and announced that Vang’s legal status was terminated and he was deported to Laos.
• The case highlights tensions between state clemency decisions influenced by immigration concerns and federal immigration enforcement priorities, with officials warning about the risks of shielding convicted criminal illegal immigrants from deportation.