The Minnesota Board of Pardons, led by Governor Tim Walz, has granted a pardon to a 42-year-old Laos national convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against a 10-year-old girl. The decision was made at the board's June 10 meeting, with the recommendation of the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission.
The pardon recipient, Tou Lue Vang, was convicted in 2006 after repeatedly sexually assaulting the girl between 2002 and 2006. He pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a plea deal that spared him from prison time. Vang, who entered the U.S. through California in 1994, had his legal status revoked upon his conviction.
The pardon essentially gives Vang a clean slate, allowing him to remain in the country. In a letter informing Vang of the decision, Carli Stark, executive director of the state CRC, wrote that the pardon is a "notable achievement and a reflection of the work you have done since your conviction."
Vang's pardon has sparked criticism from some, with DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis calling the decision "disgusting." Bis noted that Vang lost his legal status following his conviction and that the pardon is part of the state's sanctuary policies that protect illegal immigrants. The Review Commission has granted pardons to undocumented immigrants before, but this decision has raised concerns about public safety.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons takes the commission's review into account but retains the ultimate authority to grant or deny pardons. Vang cited his years of rehabilitation and took full responsibility for his actions in his application for pardon. The state has pardoned other undocumented immigrants with criminal histories in the past, including Jai Vang, a Laotian citizen who was convicted of robbery and armed robbery.
