Tim Walz supports Minnesota's decision to pardon a sex offender who was deported to Laos.

Governor Walz Defends Pardon of Convicted Offender

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has openly supported his decision to pardon Thu Lu Van, a man convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against a 10-year-old girl. This decision comes after the Trump administration recently deported Van back to Laos, stripping him of his legal status in the U.S.

Van, who is 42, received his pardon from the Minnesota Board of Pardons on June 10. However, just last Friday, news broke that he had been deported following his loss of legal standing.

When asked about the implications of the deportation, Walz seemed to reflect on its significance. “Does that make us any safer?” he pondered. He also questioned whether this action provided any sense of security to children still living in the community.

“Have we improved the notion that people won’t just be defined by their worst moments?” he added, seeking to highlight the complexity of the situation.

Walz clarified that this pardon is not necessarily tied to immigration policy, explaining that the pardon board had previously denied clemency to other applicants who faced similar immigration-related issues.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement regarding Van’s deportation, expressing his belief that foreign sex offenders should not pose a threat to Americans. “That’s why I stripped him of his legal status here,” Rubio stated, implying a sense of urgency regarding public safety.

Reports indicate that Van admitted to multiple sexual assaults against the underage girl over a series of years, beginning when she was just 10. After entering the U.S. through California in 1994 and initially gaining legal status, he lost that status following his conviction.

The Minnesota Pardon Review Commission had suggested clemency for Van, and his pardon was granted through a board that included Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

This decision has earned sharp criticism from federal officials and Republican lawmakers. Walz defended the pardon, mentioning support from the victims for Van’s clemency, although it did not shield him from deportation.

At the time, Lauren Biss, acting assistant secretary of Homeland Security, condemned the pardon, calling it “disgusting” and asserting that such actions safeguard criminal illegal immigrants.