A US citizen from Minnesota faced a terrifying ordeal when federal immigration agents broke into his home without a warrant. The agents detained him at gunpoint while he wore only underwear and sandals. This incident has raised serious questions about law enforcement overreach.
Forced from Home in Frigid Weather
ChongLy "Scott" Thao was napping in his St. Paul residence when his daughter-in-law woke him. She told him that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were banging on the door. Thao instructed her not to open it, but the agents forced their way inside.
"They didn't show any warrant; they just broke down the door," Thao recalled. "I was shaking." Masked agents pointed guns at the family and shouted commands. Thao asked his daughter-in-law to find his identification, but the agents refused to look at it.
Traumatic Arrest Witnessed by Grandson
Instead, agents handcuffed Thao and led him outside. He wore only sandals and underwear, with a blanket draped over his shoulders. His four-year-old grandson watched the scene and cried. Neighbors captured videos showing people blowing whistles and horns while screaming at the armed agents to leave the family alone.
Thao said the agents drove him to a remote location in frigid weather. They made him exit the vehicle to photograph him. "I feared they would beat me," Thao admitted. Later, agents asked for his ID, which they had earlier prevented him from retrieving.
Agents Realize Mistake After Detention
After an hour or two, agents realized Thao was a US citizen with no criminal record. They returned him to his home. "They made me show my ID and then left without apologizing for detaining me or breaking my door," Thao said.
Thao now plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. He no longer feels secure sleeping in his own home. "I don't feel safe at all," Thao stated. "What did I do wrong? I didn't do anything."
DHS Defends Controversial Operation
The Department of Homeland Security described the operation as a "targeted operation" seeking two convicted sex offenders. DHS claimed Thao "refused to be fingerprinted or facially ID'd" and "matched the description of the targets."
Thao's family strongly disputes this account. They issued a statement saying they "categorically dispute" it and "strongly object to DHS's attempt to publicly justify this conduct with false and misleading claims." The family confirmed that only Thao, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson live at the home. None of them or the property's owner appear on Minnesota's sex offender registry.
Son Also Stopped by ICE Agents
Chris Thao, ChongLy Thao's son, revealed that ICE stopped him while he was driving to work before detaining his father. Court records show a person sharing the first name of the man whose car Chris borrowed has a sex offense conviction. However, Chris Thao insists they are not the same person.
This incident highlights growing concerns about immigration enforcement tactics. Many citizens worry about similar violations of their rights. The planned lawsuit could set important precedents for how federal agents conduct home raids.
