ICE Agents Forcibly Detain US Citizen in Minnesota Home Without Warrant
ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a long-time US citizen, was forcibly removed from his home in St Paul, Minnesota, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without a warrant, according to family accounts and video evidence reviewed by the Associated Press. The incident, which occurred in subfreezing weather, has ignited significant backlash from local residents and officials, with an economic blackout day planned in Minnesota to protest what many describe as an aggressive ICE surge in the Twin Cities area.
Agents Point Guns and Break Down Door in Warrantless Raid
Thao recounted that on a Sunday afternoon, his daughter-in-law woke him from a nap to inform him that ICE agents were banging on the door of their residence. He advised her not to open it, but masked agents forced their way in, pointing guns at the family and yelling. "I was shaking," Thao said. "They didn't show any warrant; they just broke down the door." This aggressive entry has raised serious questions about the conduct of federal immigration authorities, particularly amid reports of warrantless arrests and clashes with protesters in the region.
Citizen Led Out in Underwear in Frigid Conditions
As his four-year-old grandson watched and cried, Thao was handcuffed and led outside wearing only sandals and underwear, with just a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Videos of the scene show neighbors and onlookers blowing whistles and horns, screaming at the more than a dozen armed agents to leave the family alone. Thao described being driven to a remote location, where agents made him exit the vehicle in the cold to photograph him, causing him to fear for his safety. Despite his requests, agents initially prevented him from retrieving his identification.
Backlash from Local Leaders and Family Disputes DHS Account
St Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, a Hmong American, condemned the arrest in a statement, saying, "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." The US Department of Homeland Security defended the operation as a "targeted operation" seeking two convicted sex offenders, claiming Thao lived with them and matched their description. However, Thao's family categorically disputes this, stating that only he, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson reside at the home, with no one listed on the Minnesota sex offender registry at that address.
Family History and Plans for Legal Action
The family expressed particular distress over Thao's treatment, noting his mother, Choua Thao, fled Laos in the 1970s after supporting American covert operations during the "secret war" against communists. Choua Thao, a nurse who treated CIA-backed Hmong soldiers, passed away recently, and her legacy adds to the family's sense of injustice. Thao, who has no criminal record, plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the DHS, stating, "I don't feel safe at all. What did I do wrong? I didn't do anything." The DHS has not responded to requests for further details on the alleged sex offenders or the justification for the raid.
