U.S. Citizen Detained by ICE 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 during subfreezing temperatures.

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

As Thao was being detained, he requested his daughter-in-law retrieve his identification, but agents declined to see it. He was led outside in handcuffs, wearing only sandals and underwear, with a blanket over his shoulders, as his 4-year-old grandson watched and cried. Videos captured neighbors protesting the agents' actions.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the operation as targeting two convicted sex offenders allegedly residing with Thao. DHS stated, "The US citizen lives with these two convicted sex offenders at the site of the operation." Thao's family disputes this, 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, plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against DHS. He expressed feeling unsafe in his home, stating, "I don't feel safe at all. What did I do wrong? I didn't do anything."