[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today [May 4, 2026], the Minnesota Board of Pardons unanimously granted a pardon to At “Ricky” Chandee at an emergency meeting. The Board considered the fact that Chandee is a Minnesota father, a longtime public employee, and a refugee who has lived in the United States for decades without incident after his single conviction over 30 years ago.
“The federal government says they’re targeting the ‘worst of the worst,’ but instead they’re tearing a father and public servant away from his family over a mistake from more than 30 years ago,” said Governor Walz. “This is not about public safety; it’s a campaign of retribution that uses heavy-handed tactics to target people who have already paid their debt and built their lives here in Minnesota.”
At Chandee, who came to the United States as a refugee from Laos, faces deportation this week due to a single conviction from more than 30 years ago when he was 18 years old. Since that time, he has built a life in Minnesota, working for nearly three decades in engineering at the City of Minneapolis, raising a family, and contributing to his community without further incident.
Last week, the Clemency Review Commission unanimously recommended a pardon for Chandee after hearing testimony from family members, coworkers, and community members who described Chandee as a dedicated public servant and loving father to a son currently serving in the United States Air Force. Today, the Minnesota Board of Pardons agreed and voted unanimously to grant the pardon.
Chandee applied for a pardon in early January and was detained by ICE shortly afterwards as part of Operation Metro Surge. The federal government has rushed to schedule his deportation before the Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting.
Governor Walz convened an emergency meeting of the Board to ensure Chandee’s pardon could be considered before that deportation could occur. With the pardon now granted, the federal government’s legal basis for his deportation may be removed, allowing him to return to his family and community.
Governor Walz remains committed to using every available tool to protect Minnesotans from unjust federal actions. The Governor continues to demand impartial investigations into the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the return of Minnesota’s children taken during Operation Metro Surge.
