UMVA has learned that Minnesota’s governor granted a full pardon to an individual convicted of armed robbery, sparking a fierce debate over immigration and public safety.
The man, a Laotian national who entered the United States illegally, was sentenced in 1994 for aiding and abetting an armed robbery at the age of 18. After serving his term, he built a life in Minnesota, marrying, raising a family, and operating a small painting business.
In January, federal agents seized him during a sweeping immigration operation targeting undocumented residents in the Minneapolis area. Facing imminent deportation, he petitioned the state for clemency.
When the governor learned of the arrest, he called an emergency session of the Board of Pardons’ Clemency Review Commission, inviting the state attorney general and the chief justice of the supreme court to weigh in.
The commission voted unanimously to grant the pardon, citing the man’s clean record since release, his family ties, and his contribution to the local economy.
During the hearing, the governor mistakenly referred to the individual as a “citizen,” emphasizing that deporting him would harm both his family and the community that benefits from his tax‑paying work.
The attorney general, reviewing the case remotely, echoed the board’s assessment and supported the governor’s decision.
Earlier, the governor had fiercely criticized the federal immigration raid, likening the agents to a modern‑day secret police, a comment that prompted a stern warning from the acting director of the immigration agency to temper such rhetoric.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the pardon has ignited a heated discussion across the state, with opponents arguing it undermines immigration law, while supporters claim it upholds the values of redemption and community responsibility.
