ICE removal halted? Minnesota Governor Walz’s last-minute pardon of a Lao immigrant raises eyebrows

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:10]Jia Vang, a Laotian-born immigrant in Minnesota, was facing deportation by ICE. But, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the state Board of Pardons granted him clemency.

[00:00:23]Jia Vang was convicted in the year 1994 at age 18 of aiding and abetting an armed robbery in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He served his prison sentence and was released. According to state officials, he has not committed any crime since then.

[00:00:40]Vang, a native of Laos, was taken into ICE custody during a federal immigration enforcement operation and was reportedly scheduled for deportation in June 2026.

[00:00:54]After learning that deportation could occur before the next scheduled clemency hearing, Walz called a special meeting of Minnesota's Board of Pardons. The board unanimously approved Vang's pardon.

[00:01:08]The reasons for pardon by the board are on five points. Vang had lived crime-free for more than three decades.

[00:01:15]He built a family in Minnesota.

[00:01:17]He owns a painting and carpentry business. He had strong community support. He had spent most of his life in the United States and had little connection to Laos.

[00:01:28]Walz argued that Minnesota would not be safer by deporting someone who had already served his sentence and lived a law-abiding life for decades.

[00:01:39]Critics, especially immigration enforcement advocates, argue that Vang was convicted of a serious violent felony. The pardon was expedited specifically because deportation was imminent. State officials appeared to intervene to prevent a federal immigration action.

[00:01:58]Not necessarily. A state pardon removes the state criminal conviction, but immigration consequences are governed by federal law. Whether ICE can still pursue removal depends on federal immigration statutes and the specifics of the case.

[00:02:16]The case comes amid an ongoing clash between Democratic governors and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. Walz has been a vocal critic of ICE operations in Minnesota.

[00:02:27]While Trump allies argue that state leaders are obstructing deportations of non-citizens convicted of crimes.

[00:02:37]The key dispute is not over the facts of Vang's conviction. They are largely undisputed. The political battle is over whether a person convicted of armed robbery decades ago who has since lived crime-free deserves clemency and a chance to remain in the US or whether the federal government should proceed with deportation regardless of rehabilitation.

[00:02:56]>> Governor Walz, you signed the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill into law in May of 2023. That bill expanded MinnesotaCare to provide free health care to illegal aliens. You signed the Higher Education Omnibus Bill into law in May of 2023. That bill allows illegals to have their college tuition paid for by the state. You signed the Drivers License for All Act into law in March of 2023 and that bill allows illegals to receive drivers licenses.

[00:03:24]So, you claim you're not a sanctuary state, you just provide free health care, free college, and drivers licenses to illegal aliens. One reason you're here testifying before us today is because you refuse to cooperate with ICE. While states like Florida and Virginia empower their law enforcement to detain and remove criminal illegal aliens, you, sir, have done just the opposite. Your attorney general is directing law enforcement to ignore ICE immigration detainers. Do you agree with the Attorney General's guidance?

[00:03:57]>> Well, Congressman, it's good to see you again and thank you for being here.

[00:03:59]First, I would say as my job as governor of Minnesota is to make Minnesota the best state in the nation.

[00:04:03]>> agree with the Attorney General's guidance?

[00:04:07]>> Congressman, what I would say on this is is that Minnesota follows all law. I would say >> a very easy question. And again, I I if you're not if you claim you're not a sanctuary state, uh you just I guess you just claim that you support policies you're not a sanctuary state, but you support policies that prevent ICE from doing their job.

[00:04:26]>> Congressman, that's That is incorrect, Congressman. We follow the same laws. When you >> you'll allow me, I've got limited [clears throat] time. Well, that's what you tweeted, by the way, sir. On May 23rd, 2018, you tweeted, quote, "I support policies that keep law enforcement from enforcing federal laws." Close quote. On May 17th, just this spring, at the University of Minnesota Law School's commencement ceremony, you said, quote, "Donald Trump's modern-day Gestapo is scooping folks up off the streets." When you said the words modern-day Gestapo, you were referring to ICE agents. Gestapo, by the way, sir, was the official secret police of Hitler's Nazi Germany. So, you're calling ICE agents modern-day Nazis.

[00:05:10]Given the attacks on ICE agents that took place in Los Angeles over the weekend, don't you regard your dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric as a problem?

[00:05:24]>> The questions do you want me to answer first?

[00:05:27]>> So, sir, it saddens me that you refuse to express regret from comparing ICE to Nazis. ICE agents are brave Americans who get up every morning, leave their families, and put their lives in harm's way to protect our country, sir. You, at the very least, owe an apology to these dedicated public servants. I will say, sir, inflammatory rhetoric such as yours and the other other governors on this panel is responsible for putting a target on the back of every ICE agent who is risking their life to protect our communities. Minnesota is all too familiar, by the way, with the chaos that ensues when you refuse to work with law enforcement to enforce the law. In May 2020, looting, acts of violence, and arson occurred on your watch in Minneapolis after you refused to bring in the National Guard. Governor, your agenda is clear. Free healthcare, free college, and driver's licenses for illegals while handcuffing law enforcement when they're trying to protect our citizens in their communities. If you think that's not a sanctuary state, you shouldn't be governor. By turning Minnesota into a magnet for illegals, you have opened up our communities to dangerous criminals, including known terrorists, gang members, murderers, and child predators.

[00:06:41]You have sent a resounding message that if you're a hard working, law-abiding citizen of Minnesota, your safety and well-being are not the priorities of Tim Walz and his administration. But if you're coming to our state illegally, you're not only welcome with open arms, you're entitled to free stuff on the taxpayers' dime. This is absolutely disgraceful. Governor Walz, your sanctuary state agenda has been defined by your utter failure. You have failed to enforce the rule of law. You have failed to uphold our national sovereignty. And most importantly, you have failed the people of Minnesota. The time for radical sanctuary state policy, sir, is over. The voters made that clear last November when they elected President Trump and Vice President J.D.

[00:07:28]Vance. You remember him, don't you?

[00:07:31]Governor, the time for real leaders is is and real leadership is now. I and with that, sir, actually I Uh, Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to induce introduce into the record the governor's tweet that I referenced from May 23rd, 2018, which makes it clear his hatred for federal law enforcement.

[00:07:54]>> out of you sanctuary state, county, city leaders who talk about having to deal with the border crisis.

[00:08:01]Cracks me up, actually.

[00:08:04]At least at least Governor Pritzker, you did call it a crisis in your statement.

[00:08:07]I appreciate that.

[00:08:09]Ultimately, as you said in your statement, you received 50,000 illegal aliens into Cook County.

[00:08:14]And Governor Hochul stated that New York received about 220,000 illegal aliens.

[00:08:19]That's fantastic that you know those numbers roughly.

[00:08:22]Now, I want you to imagine you're a southern Arizona community of about 80,000 people sitting right on the border.

[00:08:29]And over the course of the Biden administration, a couple of million people came through your little town.

[00:08:39]And I quote you, Governor Pritzker.

[00:08:41]Illinois didn't ask for this crisis. And I'm going to tell you, neither did you in Arizona.

[00:08:46]Its lone hospital, only hospital, couldn't handle the influx. Nor could its single food bank, its law enforcement, its schools, and other services and infrastructure. That was a failure. You're correct on the part of the federal government under Joe Biden.

[00:09:03]That's all stopped now.

[00:09:05]That's all stopped now.

[00:09:06]Because it didn't take a new law, it took enforcement of the current law.

[00:09:12]But you know what drew a lot of those people? Cuz you may have been down there once. I've been down there dozens of times.

[00:09:18]Taken more people from Congress down there than anybody else here.

[00:09:22]And you know what those people told me?

[00:09:23]They're coming here because they do they do want they they wanted to get to places and they would name Chicago. And they would name New York to me. And I'd say, "Why the heck are you crossing here and not crossing at Del Rio?"

[00:09:38]Because you guys offered sanctuary policies. They believed that they would be protected in your jurisdictions.

[00:09:46]And now that these millions of illegal aliens are here, permitted to get here by the Democrats and the Biden administration, your jurisdictions actually hinder the enforcement of immigration laws because of the sanctuary policies you've adopted.

[00:10:03]And then you have the temerity to complain about the influx of illegal aliens that strain your social services.

[00:10:11]Well, you did that. That's That's called That's not even an unintended consequence. That's what it is.

[00:10:17]So, I'll ask you, Governor Walz, do you agree with Minnesota attorney your attorney general's opinion stating that it's not lawful for Minnesota counties to hold people for immigration authorities even with there is an immigration warrant? Do you agree with his statement? That's his statement. It's not yours. I just want to know if you agree with him.

[00:10:33]>> Yeah. Well, I know you know this, Congressman, that all 87 Minnesota counties follow federal law.

[00:10:39]>> I don't know that. I just want to know I want to I don't know that. Why would I know that? I I'm just going by your attorney general.

[00:10:44]>> I haven't >> He says not to do it. Do you agree with your attorney general?

[00:10:48]That's all I'm asking.

[00:10:49]>> The attorney general is elected independently in Minnesota. Nothing in his opinion allows in Minnesota >> So, so are you telling me you don't you disagree with him? Do you disagree >> seconds just to >> I I just want you to answer the question. You're not answering the question.

[00:11:02]>> I served here, Congressman, and there's the respect to the witnesses to just be able to >> Yeah, yeah, there is and there should be a respect and that respect should from the witness should be to answer the question.

[00:11:11]>> and and jurisdictions can do whatever they deem necessary. They have to >> Do you agree with your attorney general?

[00:11:17]>> Apparently, >> we don't know because you're not going to answer. You're going to be oblique about it.

[00:11:21]So, >> That's unfair characterization. I'm trying to answer. I'm not the attorney general of Minnesota.

[00:11:24]>> Do you agree with Do you agree with his his memo? And you And you you're killing time because you're filibustering. Do you agree with this memo?

[00:11:33]That's all I'm asking.

[00:11:35]>> Nothing >> And you don't want to even answer it.

[00:11:36]You're saying, "Oh, you know, they get maybe that maybe yes, maybe no. I don't know."