Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that Tou Lue Vang, a 42-year-old Laotian national convicted of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl, has been deported from the United States—just one month after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz granted him a full pardon that was intended to shield him from removal.

"Because of our action, this foreign criminal will never pose a threat to any American ever again," Rubio declared in a video statement posted to social media on July 10, 2026.

The Crime and Conviction

Vang came to the United States as a child and lost his legal status following his 2006 conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Vang repeatedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl over a two-year period. The charges also included strongarm sodomy and procuring a child for prostitution.

DHS officials stated that Vang "tried to bribe his victim into silence." When arrested, Vang reportedly told police it was "a cultural thing." Following his conviction, he was placed in removal proceedings and issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge.

Walz's Controversial Pardon

On June 10, 2026, Minnesota's Board of Pardons—consisting of Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and State Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson—voted unanimously to grant Vang a full pardon. The board cited a letter of support from the victim, evidence of rehabilitation, and family support as factors in their decision.

The pardon would have wiped out Vang's criminal record, potentially shielding him from deportation. But Rubio moved swiftly to close that door.

Rubio's Response

"Laotian national Tou Lue Vang was convicted of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in Minnesota. He was set to be deported until @GovTimWalz issued him a pardon. Then, I revoked his legal status," Rubio wrote on social media.

"This week I revoked his legal status in the United States and, as a result, federal agents took him into custody and, as of today, he has been removed from the United States."

Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis issued a blistering statement: "Governor Tim Walz's decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting. These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting."

Political Fallout

The deportation highlights the ongoing clash between the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies and state-level efforts by Democratic officials to provide protections for immigrants facing removal.

Walz, who served as Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 presidential election, has not publicly responded to Rubio's announcement. The pardon drew immediate criticism from Republicans when it was granted, with many calling it evidence of Democratic leniency toward criminal illegal aliens.

Vang's deportation to Laos marks one of the most high-profile removals in the Trump administration's second term, demonstrating the federal government's willingness to override state pardons when national immigration enforcement is at stake.

For Rubio, the case represents a clear victory in the administration's broader immigration agenda. "He will never endanger another American," the Secretary of State concluded.