The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) blasted Minnesota leaders for granting a pardon to an illegal immigrant who was convicted of armed robbery.
Gov. Tim Walz called a special meeting of the Minnesota Board of Pardons last week to hear Jai Vang’s application, which was originally scheduled to be heard at the board’s June meeting.
Walz said the board received notice on May 14 that Vang was taken into ICE custody and scheduled to be deported before the next board meeting.
The board consists of Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson.
According to Walz, Vang was convicted as an 18-year-old of a “robbery involving a firearm” and served time in prison.
Since then, Vang has started a family, become a “critical member of the community,” and had no “serious criminal violations,” Walz said.
“Obviously this was a very serious crime but also committed at a very young age,” Hudson added.
She said the board did not hear anything from the victims “one way or the other.”
“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 commented. “I do not see how it would serve his family and the stability of his family nor the economic interests of Minnesota, where we have a taxpaying citizen who is creating job growth and living a life free from any criminal activity.”
Like Walz, Hudson also referred to Vang as an “upstanding citizen.”
The board voted unanimously to grant Vang a pardon. Vang wrote in his application for clemency that his chances of “remaining in the United States” would be jeopardized without a pardon.
According to DHS, a Department of Justice immigration judge issued Vang a final order of removal on May 23, 1996. Vang appealed the order and his appeal was dismissed by the Board of Immigration Appeals on May 7, 1997, DHS said, noting that Vang was then released by the Clinton administration.
DHS said Vang entered the United States illegally at an unknown date and location.
“It’s absolutely insane that Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota sanctuary politicians would pardon this violent criminal illegal alien, whose criminal history includes convictions for armed robbery and driving under the influence,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
“DHS is calling on Governor Walz to stop these dangerous political games and to stop prioritizing criminal illegal aliens over American citizens.”
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
