The Minnesota Governor has pardoned a convicted child rapist, shielding him from deportation.
The individual, Tou Lue Vang, was convicted of repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl in 2004 and was subsequently issued a deportation order.
Despite the severity of the crime, Vang was pardoned, which removed his qualifying convictions that made him removable from the United States.
Vang served no prison time as part of a plea deal, which allowed him to plead guilty to first degree criminal sexual conduct.
The pardon was granted by the Minnesota Board of Pardons, which is made up of the governor, attorney general, and chief justice of the state supreme court.
The Department of Homeland Security has accused the governor of trying to shield Vang from deportation, calling it a disturbing decision that protects criminal illegal aliens.
The agency notes that Vang was issued a deportation order immediately following his conviction and that the pardon will prevent him from being removed from the country.
The decision to pardon Vang has been widely criticized, with many calling it a disturbing example of sanctuary politics in action.
The governor's office has not commented on the pardon, but the Department of Homeland Security has made it clear that they will continue to pursue Vang's deportation.
