Immigrant who said ‘it is cultural to marry a 12-year-old’ pardoned by Democrats in Minnesota
Who Is Tou Lue Vang? Sex Abuser Facing Deportation Pardoned in Minnesota Deportation U-turn Conviction and 'cultural' justification Plea for second chance The victim's support
Who Is Tou Lue Vang? Sex Abuser Facing Deportation Pardoned in Minnesota Deportation U-turn Conviction and 'cultural' justification Plea for second chance The victim's support A Hmong immigrant scheduled for deportation following a conviction for child sexual abuse has been granted a full pardon by the Minnesota Board of Pardons. The controversial decision was criticised by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal immigration officials, who accuse state leadership of shielding a violent offender.The board includes governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minnesota supreme court chief justice Natalie Hudson, who voted to clear the criminal record of 42-year-old Tou Lue Vang on June 10. The decision blocked his removal from the country, which US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed was scheduled to take place just one week later.Federal authorities reacted with anger to the decision. They claimed it was an attempt by Democratic leadership to subvert federal immigration enforcement.DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis condemned the decision."Governor Tim Walz's decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting.
These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting."Federal officials noted that Vang's deportation had recently become viable due to a 2025 shift in diplomatic relations with Laos, which agreed to accept deportees after nearly two decades of refusal.ICE detailed the severity of Vang’s record on the social media platform X, noting that the board chose to "grant Tou Lue Vang, of Laos, a pardon for his 2006 convictions for sexual assault—strongarm sodomy and procuring a child for prostitution. "Vang arrived in US from a Thai refugee camp in 1994 and was granted legal status under the Clinton administration. However, that status was revoked following his arrest for repeatedly assaulting a 10-year-old girl between 2002 and 2004.According to police reports cited by DHS, Vang attempted to offer the child ten dollars to buy her silence. When questioned by investigators, he attempted to justify his actions by claiming that for him "it is a cultural thing...to marry and have sex with girls as young as 12." He further claimed that the victim was equally responsible and should also face arrest.Vang ultimately secured a plea deal, pleading guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which allowed him to avoid prison time.
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