Walz Defends Pardon for 42-Year-Old Sex Offender After U.S. Deports Him to Laos

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

Tim Walz said Tuesday that deporting Tou Lue Vang to Laos did not necessarily make Minnesotans safer, defending a June 10 pardon issued after Vang had completed his sentence.
Vang, 42, had been under a final removal order after losing legal status following a first-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction involving a 10-year-old girl; the Trump administration deported him last week.
Walz said the pardon was not an immigration move and pointed to the victim's support, while noting Minnesota's Board of Pardons had denied clemency in other immigration-related cases.
Marco Rubio said he revoked Vang's legal status so he would "never pose a threat to any American" again, underscoring the clash between Minnesota's clemency decision and federal immigration enforcement.