U.S. Citizen Detained by ICE Without Warrant in Minnesota Home

Federal immigration agents forcibly entered the St. Paul residence of ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a U.S. citizen, detaining him at gunpoint without a warrant and leading him outside in subfreezing temperatures wearing only underwear.

Thao recounted that on Sunday afternoon, his daughter-in-law alerted him to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents banging on their door. Despite his instruction not to open it, masked agents broke in, pointed guns at the family, and detained him.

"I was shaking," Thao said. "They didn't show any warrant; they just broke down the door."

As his 4-year-old grandson watched, Thao was handcuffed and led outside wearing only sandals and underwear, with a blanket over his shoulders. Neighbors captured videos of the incident, showing agents leading Thao away as onlookers protested.

Thao stated that agents drove him to an undisclosed location, photographed him in the cold, and eventually realized he was a U.S. citizen with no criminal record. After approximately two hours, they returned him home without apology.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the operation as targeting two convicted sex offenders, claiming Thao matched their description and resided with them.

"The US citizen lives with these two convicted sex offenders at the site of the operation," DHS stated. "The individual refused to be fingerprinted or facially ID'd. He matched the description of the targets."

Thao's family disputed this account, asserting that only Thao, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson live in the home, and none are listed in the Minnesota sex offender registry.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her criticized the operation, stating, "ICE is not doing what they say they're doing. They're not going after hardened criminals. They're going after anyone and everyone in their path. It is unacceptable and un-American."

Thao, whose family fled Laos after supporting U.S. operations during the 1970s, expressed plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against DHS, stating, "I don't feel safe at all. What did I do wrong? I didn't do anything."