Minnesota's last-minute pardon saves city worker from deportation—for now
At Chandee, a 52-year-old city worker, narrowly avoided deportation after Minnesota granted him a last-minute pardon. The decision came just one day before he was set to leave the US. Federal authorities had ordered his removal over a 1992 assault conviction, sparking a dispute between state and national officials. Chandee’s legal troubles began in January when he was arrested during Operation Metro Surge. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cited his 1992 conviction as grounds for deportation. Despite this, he had worked for 27 years as an engineering technician for the City of Minneapolis without further legal issues.
The Minnesota Clemency Review Commission reviewed his case and voted unanimously to recommend a pardon. On May 4, the State Board of Pardons approved it, temporarily halting his deportation for two weeks. Governor Tim Walz criticised the federal push to remove Chandee, calling it unfair to separate a long-serving public employee from his family over a decades-old offence. Federal officials, however, disputed the pardon. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Chandee had two additional felony assault convictions from 2008. His attorney and court records provided no evidence to support these allegations, leaving the claims unverified.
The pardon has delayed Chandee’s deportation, but his long-term status remains uncertain. Federal authorities continue to challenge the state’s decision, while his supporters argue that his clean record since 1992 justifies his right to stay. The case highlights ongoing tensions between state pardons and federal immigration enforcement.
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