Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is facing renewed political scrutiny after granting clemency to an illegal alien convicted of armed robbery in the 1990s, just as federal immigration authorities were preparing deportation proceedings involving the case.
The case centers on Jai Vang, who was convicted in 1994 in Hennepin County of aiding and abetting armed robbery when he was 18 years old.
Court records indicate he served a prison sentence and later remained in the United States, where he built a life that included raising a family and working in trades such as painting and carpentry, according to FOX 9.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later took Vang into custody during what reporting described as Operation Metro Surge, a federal enforcement effort targeting individuals with prior criminal convictions in the Minneapolis area.
ICE officials said Vang, a Laotian national, was subject to deportation after immigration proceedings tied to his past conviction.
Walz, who sits on Minnesota’s Board of Pardons alongside Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, called a special session of the board after being notified of Vang’s ICE detention, KSTP reported.
The board unanimously granted clemency, according to state officials.
Officials said the decision was based on rehabilitation, family circumstances, and the absence of subsequent criminal history.
During the hearing, Walz defended the decision, saying he saw no public safety benefit in deporting Vang after decades in the United States.
“I can find no reason how Minnesota will be safer or better if Mr. Vang is deported to a country he has not been to since he was a child,” Walz said, also referring to him as a “taxpaying citizen” who contributes to the economy.
Critics seized on the comment, noting Vang is not a U.S. citizen and arguing the language blurred the distinction between citizenship status and long-term residency.
Supporters of the decision said the pardon reflected rehabilitation and reintegration after decades in the community.
While the clemency removes state-level consequences tied to the conviction, immigration enforcement remains under federal jurisdiction.
ICE officials have indicated that state pardons do not automatically eliminate deportation authority, meaning Vang’s immigration status may still be reviewed separately under federal law.
The decision has also drawn criticism from opponents of Walz’s immigration policies, who argue his administration has taken a broader stance that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Walz has previously faced backlash for comments comparing ICE agents involved in enforcement operations to “modern-day Gestapo,” remarks that were condemned by federal officials.
His administration has also faced scrutiny over Minnesota’s approach to immigration enforcement, including limits on cooperation with federal detainers in certain cases and expanded access to certain state services for illegal aliens, according to critics.
Supporters argue those policies reflect humanitarian priorities and public safety considerations.
The Vang case is part of a broader pattern of recent clemency decisions involving long-term residents facing deportation after decades-old convictions.
Supporters say such cases reflect rehabilitation and stability, while critics argue they highlight ongoing tensions between state-level clemency powers and federal immigration enforcement.
As the legal and political debate continues, Vang’s immigration status remains subject to federal review despite the state-level pardon, underscoring the limits of gubernatorial authority in deportation cases involving illegal aliens under federal law.
