Pardoned by Minnesota, Deported by Trump: Vang's Case
You are pardoned by your state, your victim has forgiven you, and you believe you have a second chance. Then the federal government deports you anyway. That is what happened to Tou Lue Vang — and his case reveals a hard truth about how little a state pardon means when a federal removal order is still on the books.
You have a state pardon in hand. You think the worst is over. Then federal agents show up at your door anyway. That is exactly what happened to Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian immigrant who lived in Minnesota for nearly three decades — and whose case is now a warning for anyone in removal proceedings.
Vang came to the US in 1994 and was granted legal status. He was convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for raping a young girl between 2002 and 2004. After that conviction, his legal status was revoked and a final order of removal was issued. Because Laos initially refused to accept deportees, he remained in Minnesota for nearly 20 years. Federal authorities detained him in December 2025 during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation. A federal judge ordered his release from ICE custody in February 2026. Then, in June 2026, the Minnesota Board of Pardons granted him a pardon after he expressed remorse and his victim wrote a letter saying she had forgiven him.
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A State Pardon Did Not Stop Federal Deportation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he personally revoked Vang's legal status and that federal agents took Vang into custody. "As of today, he has been removed from the United States," Rubio said in a video statement. The Trump administration used the case to attack Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other state Democrats, accusing them of shielding immigrants from deportation. Deputy Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis called the pardon decision "disgusting." US House Majority Whip Tom Emmer also condemned it publicly. Walz's office did not respond to a request for comment.
This case shows a critical legal reality: a state pardon does not erase a federal removal order. Immigration law is federal. A state board can forgive a crime under state law, but it cannot cancel a final order of removal issued by a federal immigration court. If you have a removal order — even an old one — it can be enforced at any time, especially under the current administration's enforcement priorities.
What to Do
- If you have an old removal order, do not assume it is forgotten. Talk to an immigration lawyer immediately to find out whether you can file a motion to reopen your case in immigration court.
- If you are detained by ICE, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer. Do not sign any documents without legal counsel.
- If you have a criminal conviction — even an old one — ask an immigration attorney how it affects your current status before any government interaction.
- A state pardon may help in some immigration contexts, but it does not automatically cancel a federal removal order. Only a federal immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals can reopen or terminate removal proceedings.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
A state pardon has no binding effect on federal immigration proceedings. Under federal law, a final order of removal remains enforceable regardless of what a state board decides. If you have a prior conviction and a removal order, your only real options are a motion to reopen before the immigration court or an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals — and both have strict procedural requirements. Consult an immigration attorney before any contact with federal authorities.