📅 January 21, 2026
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary, The Vagabond News
St. Paul, Minnesota — Federal immigration agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained ChongLy Scott Thao, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen of Hmong descent, during a forceful early-morning operation at his home in St. Paul on January 18, 2026. The incident — which family members and video footage characterize as warrantless, violent, and traumatic — drew widespread attention and criticism from local leaders and civil rights advocates.
At the time of the encounter, Thao was at home with family when ICE agents, who were conducting a broader enforcement operation in the Twin Cities, entered his residence, pointed firearms at occupants, and handcuffed him. According to Thao and relatives, agents did not present a judge-signed warrant before forcing their way in.
Forceful Entry and Detention
A widely shared video and accounts from family members show Thao being led outside in freezing temperatures — reportedly around 14°F (-10°C) — wearing only underwear, sandals, and wrapped in a thin blanket. His four-year-old grandson was present and visibly distressed as agents escorted him outside.
Thao has long been a U.S. citizen and maintains that he cooperated with agents during the encounter, including offering to present identification, which officials initially refused to see. He was reportedly held in a vehicle for approximately one to two hours before ICE confirmed his citizenship and released him without apology or explanation.
Government Justification and Family Response
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the operation, stating that ICE agents were seeking two convicted sex offenders with outstanding deportation orders believed to be connected to the address where Thao lives. However, Thao’s family has challenged this justification, contending that no such offenders resided at their home and that authorities erred in detaining an innocent U.S. citizen.
Critics argue that the manner of the intervention — particularly in the absence of a judicially authorized warrant — raises serious constitutional concerns under the Fourth Amendment. Legal experts note that while immigration agents have certain administrative authorities, forced entry into a home without a judge-signed warrant and the temporary seizure of a U.S. citizen can trigger civil rights and due process issues.
Community and Political Reaction
The incident has prompted sharp criticism from local officials, activists, and community leaders. Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her condemned the event as inappropriate and discriminatory, suggesting the ICE action reflected broader aggressive immigration enforcement tactics rather than focused targeting of criminal elements.
Residents and neighbors documented the event on video and social media, with some confronting agents at the scene amid expressions of outrage. Advocacy groups have highlighted the case as part of a broader pattern of controversial immigration enforcement practices in the region.
Broader Enforcement Context
Thao’s detention occurred amid a high-profile federal immigration enforcement initiative in Minnesota, which has already sparked widespread debate. The campaign — part of a larger surge of ICE operations in the Twin Cities — has included other high-visibility incidents and drawn scrutiny over agents’ tactics and interactions with communities.
Civil liberties advocates emphasize that detaining a U.S. citizen during an immigration operation — particularly in circumstances involving forced entry without a warrant — underscores the tension between immigration enforcement priorities and constitutional protections afforded to citizens.
Thao’s Response and Legal Intentions
Thao has described the experience as deeply unsettling and said he no longer feels secure in his own home. He has indicated plans to pursue legal action, including a potential civil rights lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security for what he and his family view as an unlawful detention and violation of his rights.
As of this reporting, federal authorities have not issued further comment on the specifics of the operation or Thao’s upcoming legal actions.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, NBC Chicago, Sahan Journal
Tags: ChongLy Scott Thao, ICE, St. Paul Minnesota, immigration enforcement, civil rights
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