MINNESOTA — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the deportation of Tou Lue Vang, an immigrant from Laos, in a video statement. The announcement followed a recent federal decision to remove Vang after his 2006 conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

"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," Rubio said. He added, "Because of our action, this foreign criminal will never pose a threat to any American ever again."

Vang was convicted in 2006 for raping a young girl between 2002 and 2004. A final order of removal for Vang was issued in 2006, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Despite this, federal authorities detained Vang in December 2025.

In February 2026, a federal judge ordered Vang's release from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. The Minnesota board of pardons pardoned Vang in June. Lauren Bis, deputy assistant homeland security secretary for media relations, called the decision to pardon Vang "disgusting."

Vang first came to the U.S. in 1994, where he was granted legal status upon arrival, the Department of Homeland Security stated. His legal status was revoked after his conviction. Laos had initially refused to accept deportees. Vang spent nearly two decades living in Minnesota. Vang expressed remorse for his actions, and a letter from his victim stated she forgave him. US House of Representatives Majority Whip Tom Emmer spoke against the pardon, stating, "I'm angry and disgusted at yet another action by our feckless governor that puts violent illegal aliens ahead of innocent Americans." This statement refers to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.