Sen. Marco Rubio told Fox News Digital he took steps to terminate Tue Lue Vang’s immigration status in the United States after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and the state’s Board of Pardons granted clemency. Rubio said federal authorities have since removed Vang from the country; those claims are reported here as attributed to Rubio and to Fox News Digital.
What Rubio said and did
According to Fox News Digital, Rubio said he intervened to ensure the pardon would not prevent federal removal. “That’s why I terminated his legal status in the United States,” Rubio told the outlet, and he added that Vang “has now been removed from our country and will never pose a threat to any American ever again.” Those quotes and the account of removal are attributed to Rubio as reported by Fox News Digital.
Rubio’s comments echoed concerns raised by federal officials in media reporting that a state pardon could complicate immigration enforcement. The reporting says Rubio cited public-safety reasons for pressing for termination of status and removal.
Marco Rubio intervention after Tim Walz pardon: timeline
Reporting places key events in this sequence: Vang was convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to the coverage. On June 10, the Minnesota Board of Pardons — made up of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson — voted to grant clemency after a recommendation from the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission.
The Clemency Review Commission, a separate state advisory body, recommended clemency to the three-member pardons board. Public reporting and board materials cited the commission’s review of Vang’s record since his conviction as part of the recommendation.
How a state pardon intersects with deportation
State clemency and federal immigration law operate under different authorities. A state pardon can remove or mitigate state-law penalties and restore rights under state law, but it does not automatically eliminate federal immigration consequences or the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to pursue removal. That legal distinction is central to why federal officials sometimes raise objections when state pardons involve noncitizens with serious convictions.
In this case, Fox News Digital reported that DHS officials expressed concern the clemency could shield Vang from deportation. Immigration practitioners note that whether a pardon affects immigration consequences depends on the nature of the pardon and the way federal immigration authorities and immigration courts treat the underlying conviction; in many instances, federal removal authority remains intact even after a state pardon.
Reactions and political context in Minnesota
The decision prompted a sharp political reaction. Federal and national Republican officials criticized Walz’s pardon as jeopardizing public safety, while state officials and supporters of clemency framed the action as a response to evidence of rehabilitation and community ties.
Gov. Walz defended the pardon in remarks reported by local and national outlets, saying Vang had become a “critical member of the community” since his release and arguing deportation would not serve public-safety goals or the interests of families. Critics pushed back, emphasizing the gravity of the 2006 conviction as described in reporting and calling for federal enforcement.
Fox News Digital reported that DHS officials — as relayed in media coverage — raised concerns and that the dispute became a point of national attention, with Republicans seizing on the case as an example in debates over clemency and immigration policy.
What comes next
When federal immigration status is terminated, typical next steps can include administrative processing by U.S. immigration authorities, detention in some cases, coordination with the receiving country to secure travel documents, and removal. Rubio’s statement that Vang “has now been removed” indicates, as reported, that those federal steps were completed in this instance.
Possible follow-ups include legal challenges over how state pardons should be weighed by immigration authorities, renewed scrutiny of how state clemency boards account for immigration consequences, and intergovernmental discussions between state and federal agencies. Observers also noted a related pardon in May that drew scrutiny, increasing attention to the board’s decision-making in cases involving noncitizens.
Background
The Minnesota Clemency Review Commission reviews petitions and advises the Board of Pardons, which has statutory authority under state law to grant clemency. Boards generally consider factors such as time since conviction, rehabilitation, and contributions to community when reviewing petitions. Supporters of clemency emphasize rehabilitation and reintegration; critics emphasize public-safety risks and the potential for conflict with federal immigration enforcement.
FAQ
Can a state pardon prevent deportation?
Generally no. A state pardon affects state-law consequences but does not automatically nullify immigration consequences under federal law. Federal immigration authorities retain discretion to pursue removal in many cases even after a state pardon; outcomes can vary depending on the specifics of the pardon and the nature of the conviction.
What did Rubio specifically allege about Vang’s status?
Rubio told Fox News Digital he “terminated [Vang’s] legal status in the United States” and said, as quoted, that Vang “has now been removed from our country.” Those statements are presented here as attributed to Rubio and to the reporting outlet.
Why did Minnesota’s Board of Pardons approve clemency?
The board acted after a recommendation from the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission. The commission’s review materials, cited in reporting, referenced Vang’s conduct and record since his conviction and recommended clemency on that basis.
Sources: This article relies on reporting by Fox News Digital (link below) for the chronology and direct attributions to Sen. Rubio and to media-quoted federal officials, and on public materials from the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission and the Minnesota Board of Pardons as described in state records and media coverage.
Original Fox News reporting: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/marco-rubio-steps-tim-walz-pardoned-illegal-alien-child-rapist-deportation.
