Walz Questions Deportation After Pardoning Immigrant Offender

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently responded oddly to the deportation of an undocumented immigrant who had a history of child molestation. He raised a rather thought-provoking point: has the notion that “we’re not all going to be judged by our worst day” really gotten better?

This remark came after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported Thu Luu Van, originally from Laos. He had been convicted of sexually abusing a child multiple times, starting when she was only ten years old, between 2002 and 2004. Interestingly, Walz had previously pardoned him before this deportation took place, even though an immigration judge had ordered his deportation in 2006 due to his crimes.

ICE arrested Van last December, but a Minnesota judge decided to release him a few months later in February. In June, Walz, along with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, pardoned him.

However, the Trump administration took action, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming Van’s deportation. State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott called Walz’s decision to pardon a child sex offender “inexplicable.” He remarked that Walz’s move to protect someone with such a serious conviction ultimately led to Secretary Rubio taking steps to revoke his legal status, prompting swift action from ICE to remove him from the country to ensure public safety.

Piggott expressed his confusion over Walz’s rationale, noting that Walz himself seemed uncertain about it too. When discussing the deportation, he questioned, “Does that make us any safer?”

Walz then raised another pressing question: “So, are the children left behind feeling a little more stable?” He attempted to clarify his stance, acknowledging that the crimes committed were indeed terrible, but suggesting that the context matters.

He added, according to KSTP, “One of the most important factors that influences decisions is often where the victim stands.” The controversy drew sharp criticism from the White House, which asserted that such actions reveal the extremes of the radical left. They condemned Walz and Ellison for standing by someone who had targeted a young girl, emphasizing that the Trump administration prioritizes American families.