Minnesota Board of Pardons, Including Gov. Walz, Grants Clemency to Convicted Child Sex Offender Facing Deportation

Last month, Minnesota state officials, including Governor Tim Walz, issued a pardon to an undocumented immigrant who had been convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and was slated for deportation.

The Minnesota Board of Pardons, comprised of Governor Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison, and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, approved the pardon for Tou Lue Vang, a 42-year-old national of Laos, during its June 10 meeting. This decision followed a recommendation from the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission (CRC), according to a letter sent to Vang by Carli Stark, the CRC's executive director.

The pardon essentially provides Vang with a fresh start, clearing his record.

“Being granted a pardon is a notable achievement and a reflection of the work you have done since your conviction,” Stark conveyed in her correspondence to Vang.

Details of the Conviction and Immigration Status

Vang was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2006. The conviction stemmed from repeated sexual assaults of a young girl, which occurred between 2002 and 2006. At one point during the abuse, he reportedly offered the victim $10 to maintain her silence, according to information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

He entered a plea deal, admitting guilt to first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which allowed him to avoid a prison sentence. Following his conviction, Vang's legal immigration status was revoked, leading to a final order of removal in 2006.

In 2005, during his arrest on the charges, Vang acknowledged engaging in sexual contact with the girl but attributed his actions to cultural norms in Thailand, as detailed in a complaint obtained by a major newspaper.

Federal authorities detained Vang last year as part of the Trump administration’s