Laotian refugees who fled to the U.S. after the Vietnam War and settled in Minnesota are being deported to Laos over decades-old criminal convictions, with more than 400 removed since May 2025. Detainees include Ricky Chandee, an engineering technician for Minneapolis, and Ounheuan Hong, a chef, both convicted in their youth but since employed in their fields. Chandee, detained since January and held in Louisiana, received an emergency pardon from Minnesota's Board of Pardons, including Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, who cited his community service and city employment. His attorney said the pardon does not guarantee he will avoid deportation, as the federal government still intends to pursue his removal.