WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security reported today that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested and deported an illegal alien from Laos who had been pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his fellow sanctuary politicians despite a prior conviction for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.
Tou Lue Vang, an illegal alien from Laos, had been convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct after he repeatedly assaulted a girl between 2002 and 2004, starting when she was just 10 years old. He once offered his victim $10 to keep quiet about the sexual assaults. When interviewed by police, he tried to justify his actions as “a cultural thing,” and even said that his victim was just as guilty as him and should also be arrested.
Following his conviction, a Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge issued Vang a final order of removal on October 31, 2006.
ICE first arrested and detained Vang on December 10, 2025. On February 19, 2026, a judge in the District of Minnesota ordered his release from ICE custody. On June 10, 2026, the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission voted to grant a pardon to Vang.
“ICE deported Tou Vang, an illegal alien convicted child rapist. This monster repeatedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Tim Walz pardoned this sex criminal in an attempt to allow him to remain in our country. These are the criminal illegal aliens he and sanctuary politicians are protecting. We will always put the safety of the American people first.”
Vang entered the United States in California in 1994 and was granted legal status by the Clinton Administration. That status was revoked upon his conviction and final order of removal in 2006.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning weighed in on the development:
Just weeks ago, a foreign child rapist was freed to once again endanger America’s children after receiving a pardon from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Tou Lue Vang admitted to committing heinous crimes against a 10-year-old girl in Minnesota.
He attempted to pay his victim for her silence and dismissed his acts of child abuse as a “minor thing.” Just days before he was scheduled to be deported, the Minnesota Governor pardoned him, setting him free to endanger American families once again.
Americans should never have to live in fear that foreign sex predators — shielded from deportation by their own elected officials — could endanger them or their children. That’s why I terminated his legal status in the United States. Vang has now been removed from our country and will never pose a threat to any American ever again.
The U.S. Department of State extends its appreciations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for their continued collaboration and partnership in keeping Americans safe.
