ICE Detains U.S. Citizen in Minnesota Home Without Warrant

Federal immigration agents forcibly entered the St. Paul, Minnesota, home of ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a U.S. citizen, without a warrant, detaining him at gunpoint and leading him outside in his underwear into subfreezing temperatures, according to his family and videos reviewed by the Associated Press.

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 forced entry, 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 four-year-old grandson watched and cried, Thao was handcuffed and led outside wearing only sandals and underwear, with a blanket draped over his shoulders. Videos captured neighbors protesting the agents' actions.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the operation as targeting two convicted sex offenders allegedly residing at Thao's address. "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 disputes this account, stating that only Thao, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson live at the residence, and none are listed in the Minnesota sex offender registry.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her criticized ICE's actions, 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, a U.S. citizen for decades, plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against DHS and expressed feeling unsafe in his home. "I don't feel safe at all," he said. "What did I do wrong? I didn't do anything."