Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that a Laotian national convicted of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in Minnesota has been deported from the United States. According to the post, the man was set to be removed until Gov. Tim Walz issued a pardon, after which Rubio revoked his legal status, enabling ICE to complete the removal. The announcement has drawn widespread attention online, with users reacting strongly to the sequence of the state pardon and federal deportation.
The video shows Secretary of State Marco Rubio seated, speaking directly to the camera. In the clip, Rubio states, “Just weeks ago, a convicted sex offender and a foreign national was shielded from deportation by the governor of Minnesota.” He continues, describing the case: “Laotian National Tou Lue Vang was convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in the state of Minnesota, even tried to pay his victim for her silence, and he called his heinous crimes a minor thing.”
Rubio adds that “just days before this foreign sex offender was scheduled to be deported, Tim Walz, the Governor he issued him a pardon, setting him free to once again endanger the children of America.” He then explains, “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 because of our actions this foreign criminal will never pose a threat to any American ever again.”
Rubio concludes by saying, “Americans must never be forced by their elected leaders to live alongside foreign sex criminals who have no rights to begin with to reside in our country. This administration will always stand with the American people and defend them from violent criminals.” The footage consists only of this direct-to-camera address and does not include images of the individual, court records, the pardon process, or the deportation itself.
Online Reactions to the Walz Pardon Reversal
Some users praised the federal action described in the post. One commenter wrote, “Marco Rubio is a national hero. Tim Walz is a disgrace.” Another stated, “Thank you, Secretary Rubio!”
Other responses focused on the pardon mentioned in the announcement. A user commented, “Walz pardons child predators. You remove them. That’s the difference.” Another noted, “The fact that @TheDemocrats would rather pardon rapists than deport them tells you everything you need to know.”
Additional comments raised questions about accountability. One viewer asked, “How can Walz not be charged with a crime? This is revolting.”
Several others expressed thanks for the outcome, including “Thank you, Marco! Walz pardons child predators. You remove them.”
The case highlights ongoing tensions between state clemency decisions and federal immigration enforcement priorities. Rubio’s announcement has added another chapter to the broader online and political discussion about public safety and deportation policy.
