Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. government has revoked the legal status of Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national convicted of sexually assaulting a child, allowing federal immigration authorities to detain and remove him from the United States despite a recent pardon issued by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The case has drawn national attention after the Minnesota Board of Pardons — consisting of Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson — unanimously granted Vang clemency on June 10. The pardon cleared his state criminal record, prompting criticism from opponents who argued it could interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
Vang came to the United States as a refugee from Laos in 1994 and was convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl over several years. Under a plea agreement, he avoided prison but received a stayed 12-year sentence, served eight months in a county workhouse, and was placed on 30 years of supervised probation, which ended in 2019. Court records also indicate he attempted to pay the victim for her silence and later referred to his crimes as “minor things.”
Following his conviction, Vang lost his legal immigration status and was placed into removal proceedings. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2006. Critics of the pardon argued that removing his state convictions could complicate or delay his deportation.
In a video statement posted on X, Rubio said the administration acted to ensure Vang would not remain in the country. Rubio stated that he revoked Vang’s legal status, after which federal agents took him into custody and removed him from the United States. He added that Vang would “never pose a threat to any American ever again.”
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Rubio said Americans should not have to worry about foreign nationals convicted of serious sex crimes remaining in the country because of actions taken by state officials. He emphasized that terminating Vang’s legal status allowed federal authorities to carry out his removal.
The Department of Homeland Security also criticized the Minnesota pardon. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said the decision to pardon Vang was “disgusting,” arguing that he had already lost his legal status following his conviction and had been subject to a final removal order issued by an immigration judge.
Minnesota Republicans also condemned the pardon. House Republican Floor Leader Harry Niska described the decision as “despicable” and “morally indefensible,” accusing Walz and Attorney General Ellison of undermining public safety and interfering with federal immigration enforcement.
The case has renewed debate over the relationship between state pardons and federal immigration law. While a governor’s pardon can restore certain rights under state law, immigration consequences are governed by federal statutes and are ultimately determined by federal authorities. Rubio’s decision to revoke Vang’s legal status and proceed with his removal highlights the federal government’s authority over immigration enforcement, even when state clemency is granted.
