Tim Walz Board Pardons DHS-Flagged Illegal Immigrant As Trump Deportation Push Closes In

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The Minnesota Board of Pardons, which includes Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, voted unanimously to pardon Xayasounethone Chandee, a DHS-described illegal immigrant from Laos whose criminal history had become central to federal deportation efforts. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Chandee had assault convictions that made him removable from the United States.

The board reportedly moved ahead after learning that the Trump administration could deport Chandee within days. That timing immediately turned a state-level clemency decision into a national immigration fight, with federal officials arguing that Minnesota’s action could interfere with removal proceedings against a noncitizen already ordered deported.

Details & Background

DHS said Chandee entered the United States as a green card holder when he was a minor but later lost that status because of criminal convictions. The agency said he was convicted of assault in 1992, ordered deported by an immigration judge in 1995, and also had a later conviction for two felony counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, though his attorney disputed that later allegation.

The pardon came after a clemency process that had already drawn attention because Chandee applied shortly before federal immigration agents arrested him. The Clemency Review Commission reportedly voted 6-0 in favor of recommending his pardon, and the pardon board’s meeting was moved up after officials learned deportation could be imminent.

Reactions

The Department of Homeland Security sharply criticized Minnesota’s decision, calling it “absolute insanity” and warning that it could disrupt federal efforts to remove Chandee from the country. Acting Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis said, “Minnesota’s sanctuary politicians’ pardon took away this violent thug’s qualifying convictions that made him removable from the U.S.”

Chief Justice Natalie Hudson defended the pardon during the process, saying, “There is nothing in this application, or nothing in the facts before us that would suggest that Mr. Chandee is a danger to the public in any way, shape or form.” Chandee’s attorney, Linus Chan, also disputed DHS’s claim about the later aggravated assault conviction, saying, “There is no such conviction, and I am reaching out to DHS about where this information is coming from.”

Why This Matters to You

For Americans who want immigration laws enforced, the case raises a basic question: whether state clemency powers should be used in ways that affect federal deportation consequences. The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a defining priority, and cases like this show how state-level decisions can complicate that mission even after federal authorities have already moved.

The government should be responding with a clear defense of federal immigration law, full review of the pardon’s effect, and continued pursuit of lawful removal where the facts support it. For families concerned about public safety and accountability, this case is not just about one man in Minnesota — it is about whether the country’s immigration system still has the power to enforce its own orders when political officials try to intervene.