Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Tou Lue Vang, a Minnesota man convicted of raping a 10‑year‑old girl, has been deported despite receiving a pardon from Gov. Tim Walz. Vang, who pleaded guilty in 2005 and admitted to repeated assaults, had his conviction erased by Minnesota’s Board of Pardons in June, just days before his scheduled removal.
Rubio said the pardon threatened to shield Vang from deportation, but federal authorities ultimately terminated his legal status and expelled him from the U.S.
The decision sparked political backlash, with critics accusing Walz and other board members of protecting a dangerous offender. Attorney General Keith Ellison countered that the pardon did not restore Vang’s green card and therefore did not prevent deportation.
Supporters of the pardon pointed to letters from both Vang and his victim, who expressed forgiveness and urged leniency. Still, Rubio and DHS officials framed the deportation as a necessary measure to safeguard Americans from violent offenders.
Vang’s case highlights the tension between state pardons and federal immigration enforcement. While Minnesota officials argued the pardon reflected rehabilitation and reconciliation, federal authorities insisted public safety must come first.
The controversy underscores broader debates about immigration, criminal justice, and political accountability, with Rubio emphasizing that “Americans should never have to live in fear that foreign sex predators could endanger them or their children.”
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