U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported a convicted child rapist, Tou Lue Vang, despite an effort by Minnesota’s governor to prevent his removal. Vang, an illegal immigrant, was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2006 for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl between 2002 and 2004.

Background

Vang, a native of Laos, entered the United States in 1994 and obtained legal status. However, following his conviction, he lost that status. In June, Minnesota’s Board of Pardons, which includes Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, unanimously approved a pardon for Vang.

The pardon removed the conviction that made Vang removable under federal immigration law. However, federal officials said that Vang had a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge in 2006, which was not affected by the pardon.

Reaction

Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis criticized the pardon, stating that it was an attempt to allow Vang to remain in the country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also addressed the case, saying that the pardon was an attempt to prevent Vang’s deportation and that the administration would always stand with the American people and defend them from violent criminals.

Governor Walz defended the pardon, saying that immigration status or pending deportation is not a reason in and of itself for granting a pardon. He also stated that he could find no reason why Minnesota would be safer or better if Vang were deported to a country he had not been to since he was a child.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called Walz’s comments “truly disgusting” and said that the pardon was an attempt to protect a convicted child rapist.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.