Full Breakdown
Minnesota Governor Pardons Lao National Convicted of Armed Robbery Ahead of ICE Deportation
5/29/2026, 8:48:22 PM
Pardon of Jai Vang: Decision and Immediate Context
Governor Tim Walz, with the Minnesota Board of Pardons, issued a full pardon to Jai Vang, a Lao national convicted of armed robbery in 1994, halting ICE deportation. The Board voted unanimously after a session convened by the governor. Vang had been detained by ICE in January 2026 during Operation Metro Surge.
Legal and Immigration Background
At age 18, Vang was found guilty of aiding and abetting armed robbery in Hennepin County in 1994. After serving his sentence, he opened a painting business, married, and raised a family, with no further criminal charges. In January 2026, ICE included him in Operation Metro Surge, a DHS initiative targeting undocumented residents in Minneapolis.
Timeline of Key Dates
1994 – Armed-robbery conviction. Jan 2026 – ICE arrest during Operation Metro Surge. May 27 2026 – Governor Walz announces pardon after Board’s unanimous vote. May 29 2026 – Media coverage of the decision.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Walz said deporting Vang would not improve safety and would harm Vang’s family and economy, noting his role as a tax-paying business owner. Attorney General Keith Ellison, joining by phone, confirmed he reviewed Vang’s file and supported the Board’s clemency recommendation.
Criticism & Opposition
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons rebuked Walz’s labeling of ICE agents as President Donald Trump’s “modern-day Gestapo,” urging legislative change instead of comparisons that could endanger officers. Lyons also noted the governor’s reference to Vang as a “citizen” was inaccurate.
Why It Matters / Impact
The pardon underscores tension between state clemency authority and federal immigration enforcement, raising questions about gubernatorial power when deportation orders are pending. It may influence states’ handling of undocumented residents with criminal histories and could prompt legislative or judicial review of the balance between public safety, immigrant economic contributions, and federal immigration policy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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. I do not see how it would serve his family, nor the economic interest where we have a taxpaying citizen who is creating job growth and living a life free from any criminal activity,” — Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota
- “modern-day Gestapo,” — Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota
- “citizen.” — Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota
- “if the governor doesn’t like the laws, he’s free to advocate that Congress change them, but he should refrain from putting ICE officers in danger by likening them to one of the most appalling groups in history.” — Todd Lyons, Acting ICE Director
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources do not disclose the number of jobs Vang’s painting business provides, nor Vang’s immigration status after the pardon. No verification of the Board’s deliberations is included.
