Rubio Reverses Minnesota Governor’s Pardon to Remove Criminal Alien

Clear Facts

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the deportation of an illegal alien convicted of child sexual assault from Laos
• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the State Board of Pardons had granted the individual a full pardon
• The federal government exercised its immigration enforcement authority despite the state-level pardon

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken decisive action to deport an illegal alien convicted of child sexual assault, overriding a controversial pardon issued by Minnesota officials. The individual, originally from Laos, had been granted a full pardon by Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota State Board of Pardons.

The case highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and state-level criminal justice decisions. While governors retain the constitutional authority to grant pardons for state crimes, such actions do not affect federal immigration status or deportation proceedings.

Laotian national Tou Lue Vang was convicted of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in Minnesota. 

He was set to be deported until @GovTimWalz issued him a pardon.

Then, I revoked his legal status. @ICEgov has removed him from the U.S. and he will never endanger another… pic.twitter.com/WCJkeeheJO

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 10, 2026

.@ICEgov has DEPORTED Tou Vang, the illegal alien CHILD RAPIST @GovTimWalz pardoned in an attempt to allow him to remain in our country.

While Walz and his fellow sanctuary politicians fight to protect heinous criminals like this, we will continue putting the safety of the… https://t.co/QCzSnYh4zA pic.twitter.com/rjBXI5qhlj

 — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 10, 2026

The deportation represents a clear assertion of federal authority over immigration matters. The State Department, working in coordination with immigration enforcement agencies, moved forward with removal proceedings despite the state pardon.

Governor Walz, who served as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024, has faced criticism from conservatives for his approach to criminal justice reform. The pardon decision raised concerns among law enforcement advocates and victims’ rights groups about the balance between rehabilitation and public safety.

Federal immigration law allows for the deportation of non-citizens convicted of serious crimes, regardless of pardons or sentence commutations at the state level. The crime in question — child sexual assault — falls under categories that make individuals deportable under current statute.

The swift action by the State Department signals the current administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration law and prioritizing public safety. Conservative lawmakers have praised the decision as an appropriate use of federal authority.

This case underscores the complexity of America’s federal system, where state and federal jurisdictions sometimes overlap. Immigration enforcement remains exclusively a federal responsibility, even when state officials take actions affecting criminal records.

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