A 42-year-old illegal immigrant convicted of repeatedly raping a child was awarded a pardon by Gov.Tim Walz’s board of pardons after the state’s clemency commission recommended it be granted to him due to "immigration concerns."Fox News Digital reviewed documents from the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission, which voted four to two to grant a pardon to Laotian national Tue Lue Vang following his conviction for criminal sexual conduct.
Vang admitted to repeatedly raping a girl over a multi-year period beginning when she was 10 years old.While the two board members who voted against granting a pardon noted the serious nature of Vang’s offenses, the four members recommending a pardon each listed concern about him being deported.One commissioner, Zach Linstrom, who voted in favor of granting the pardon, wrote in his recommendation, "Very tough case but the kids not having a father is not in the best interest of society," referring to Vang’s six children.
Artika Roller, another commissioner who voted in favor of the pardon, wrote, "The applicant stated the need for clemency related to immigration issues."Following the commission’s recommendation, the Minnesota Board of Pardons, which consists of Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, awarded Vang a full pardon on June 10, essentially giving him a clean slate as he was set to be deported.DOJ ACCUSES MARYLAND OF 'ACTIVE AND DELIBERATE EFFORT' TO PREVENT DEPORTATIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: LAWSUITMinnesota Democratic Gov.Tim Walz (left) and the state Board of Pardons awarded a pardon to Laotian national Tue Lue Vang (right), who was convicted of repeatedly raping an underage girl.
(Salih Okuroglo/Anadolu via Getty Images; Department of Homeland Security)At the time of the pardon, Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis remarked that "Governor Tim Walz's decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in ou...