Pardon Granted to Undocumented Immigrant with Criminal History
Recently, Minnesota authorities, including Governor Tim Walz, made headlines by pardoning an undocumented immigrant facing deportation. This individual, Tu Luu Van, had a conviction related to the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons, which comprises Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, decided to grant clemency to Van during a meeting on June 10. This decision followed a recommendation from the Minnesota Pardon Review Commission (CRC). A letter from Carly Stark, the state CRC Executive Director, confirmed this outcome.
This pardon essentially wipes Van’s criminal record clean.
Stark noted in her communication with Van, “The granting of your pardon is a remarkable accomplishment and reflects the efforts you have made since your conviction.”
Van, 42, originally hails from Laos. He was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2006 for assaults that took place between 2002 and 2006. Reports indicate that during this period, he even attempted to pay the girl $10 to stay silent about the incidents.
In a plea deal, he avoided a prison sentence by pleading guilty. The decision to pardon Van has sparked criticism. Lauren Biss, acting assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, labeled the move as “regrettable,” emphasizing that such actions protect criminal undocumented immigrants.
Biss highlighted that Van lost his legal status as a result of his conviction. Additionally, when arrested in 2005, he acknowledged having inappropriate contact with the child but criticized the cultural norms he was familiar with.
The CRC, consisting of nine members, voted in April on Van’s petition, with four in favor and two against, while three members were absent. While the committee provides insight, the board ultimately holds final authority on pardons.
In his application, Van claimed he had rehabilitated himself and accepted responsibility for his past actions. He originally arrived in the U.S. from California in 1994 and was granted legal status under the Clinton administration, which was revoked after his conviction in 2006.
Subsequently, he was detained last year during a federal initiative targeting undocumented immigrants in Minnesota. Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Minnesota officials over sanctuary policies, arguing they shield undocumented immigrants, even those with violent records, from federal action.
The DHS noted that there have been instances where review boards granted amnesty to undocumented immigrants in the past. For example, in May, the country pardoned another Laotian national, Jai Van, who had a criminal history marked by robbery and other offenses.
