In a shocking incident that has ignited widespread outrage, a Minnesota resident and legal US citizen was seized from his home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, paraded outside in his underwear amid frigid weather, and detained without a warrant. ChongLy Thao, 56, was forcibly removed from his residence in St Paul on Sunday afternoon, as confirmed by his family and video evidence from witnesses.
Traumatic Arrest and Community Backlash
ICE agents reportedly broke down the door of Thao's home, pointed firearms at his family members, and handcuffed him while his four-year-old grandson cried in horror. Thao was then marched outside in the freezing cold, wearing only his underwear and a blanket he hastily grabbed from a couch. Despite requesting to put on clothes and offering his identification through his daughter-in-law, agents denied these pleas, detaining him while he wore Crocs on his feet.
"I was shaking," Thao told the Associated Press. "They didn't show any warrant; they just broke down the door." Neighbors captured the distressing moments on camera, screaming at ICE agents to release Thao, highlighting the community's immediate backlash against the enforcement actions.
Investigation and Aftermath of the Detention
Thao recounted being driven to a remote location where agents photographed him, leaving him in fear of assault. However, after running his fingerprints, officers discovered Thao was a legal citizen with no criminal record and returned him to his home several hours later. He received no apology or explanation for the treatment, which he described as inhumane.
"I was praying. I was like, God, please help me, I didn't do anything wrong. Why do they do this to me? Without my clothes on," Thao told Reuters. His family emphasized that the incident has caused significant psychological trauma, exacerbated by his severe psoriasis, which worsens under extreme stress.
Family History and Broader Context
Thao is a Hmong man born in Laos, whose adopted mother, Choua Thao, served as a nurse for American soldiers during the covert CIA operations known as the Secret War. She fled Laos with her children in the 1970s after communists took over, ensuring all became naturalized US citizens. Thao's family noted that his mother's recent death in December made the incident particularly heartbreaking, as she valued service, dignity, and family protection.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated they were investigating two sex offenders linked to Thao's address, claiming he matched a description and that holding individuals during operations is standard protocol for safety. Thao's family clarified that one target previously lived there as a former spouse of a relative, and his son was stopped earlier by ICE while driving a friend's car, mistakenly linked to another name on the sex offender registry.
Official Condemnations and Ongoing Protests
St Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, a personal friend of Thao, expressed fury over the event, calling it "devastating" and "un-American." She criticized ICE for not targeting hardened criminals but instead impacting innocent individuals. This incident is part of a larger pattern of increased ICE raids in Minneapolis, which have drawn condemnation from Minnesota Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz, who demand an end to such actions.
Protests have erupted across the state, with violent clashes between citizens and law enforcement, fueled by recent events like the fatal shooting of legal citizen Renee Good by officers earlier this month. Thao has filed complaints with the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and the state's attorney general, while his family raises funds for his mental health therapy and medical care, underscoring the long-term repercussions of such enforcement tactics.
