The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised concerns about how the media is portraying recent arrests of suspected illegal immigrant pedophiles by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis.
The DHS detailed the arrests of several criminals from Laos and Thailand, noting that some individuals were convicted of inappropriate behavior with minors under 14, while others had records of two counts of sexual assault involving a child.
Minnesota Star reported, “deportation brings anxiety to Hmong communities and accusations of cultural misconception.”
In support of this, someone named Shale, a technician in surgical instrument repair, mentioned that individuals with violent criminal records should face deportation. Yet, he also highlighted the cultural differences in the Hmong community, where it’s common for people to marry at a younger age than in the U.S. For instance, he himself was married at 16, has eight children, and has been a U.S. citizen for decades but worries about how the shift in deportation policies might impact his brother.
“Rather than supporting American victims, the Minnesota Star Tribune has shown sympathy towards convicted child sexual predators,” DHS officials pointed out. They mentioned Chia Nen Vue, who was convicted in 1998 of sexual crimes against a child under 13 and noted that he was issued a final removal order in 2003.
According to a GofundMe page for Chia Neng Vue, he has since “transformed into a completely different person.” The page claims, “He has a family and is away from trouble,” yet DHS indicated that he continued to have legal issues even after his removal order.
For example:
- On March 24, 2009, Vue was arrested for firearm possession.
- On June 11, 2010, he faced charges for first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
- On August 3, 2011, he was arrested for domestic assault and possession of dangerous weapons.
- On December 30, 2011, he was charged with domestic abuse violations.
- On April 26, 2012, he was arrested for a violent crime in St. Paul.
DHS Deputy Director Tricia McLaughlin criticized the media portrayal of these arrests, calling it “despicable.” She expressed concern over misleading reports, emphasizing that there is no justification for crimes against children and that ICE officers are committed to removing such threats from American communities.
