ICE Detention of US Citizen Investigated as Kidnapping in Minnesota
Authorities in Minnesota are conducting a formal investigation into the detention of a US citizen by federal immigration officers, treating the incident as a possible case of kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment. The arrest of ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a 56-year-old naturalized citizen, occurred in St. Paul on 19 January 2026, during the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge, a harsh crackdown in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Chaotic Arrest and Allegations
According to reports, masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents forcibly entered Thao's home without a warrant, as claimed by his family. They dragged him into the street in sub-freezing temperatures while he was in his underwear, clutching a blanket. Thao, a Hmong American, stated that agents drove him to a remote location, photographed him in frigid weather, and only released him nearly two hours later after realizing their error. Videos from the scene show neighbors and protesters confronting over a dozen armed ICE agents, with whistles and horns blaring in a chaotic display.
Official Responses and Investigations
At a press conference in St. Paul, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has failed to respond to requests for information about Thao's detention. They indicated that a grand jury might be convened in May to further examine the case. Fletcher emphasized, "There's no dispute that he was taken out of his house, forcibly taken out of his home and driven around. Is that good law enforcement, to take an American citizen out of their home and drive them around aimlessly?"
In a statement to the Guardian, a DHS spokesperson defended the agents' actions, asserting that ICE does not kidnap people and calling the investigation a political stunt. The statement claimed that officers were executing a warrant based on surveillance linking sexual predator targets to the property, and that Thao refused fingerprinting or facial identification, leading to his temporary detention for safety reasons.
Broader Context and Legal Challenges
This incident is part of a wider pattern of aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Neighboring Hennepin County has sued the federal government to access evidence for investigating shootings by federal officers, including the deaths of anti-ICE protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January 2026. Fletcher clarified that federal agents do not have absolute immunity, stating, "There is no such thing as absolute immunity for federal agents. Seizing a person out of their home who's an American citizen, they're not immune from that."
Meanwhile, the number of deaths in ICE custody has risen to nearly 50 since Trump resumed office in January 2025, with recent cases including Alejandro Cabrera Clemente and José Guadalupe Ramos. Hao Nguyen, director of the trial division in Ramsey County, has requested evidence from DHS, ICE, and federal prosecutors, setting a deadline of 30 April for responses before potential legal action.
Choi stressed that the investigation aims to uncover the truth without a predetermined agenda, while Thao has denied any connection to the individuals ICE was seeking. The St. Paul Police Department is also examining another related case for potential violations, though details remain undisclosed.
