Minnesota Officials Investigate ICE Arrest of US Citizen as Potential Kidnapping

Officials in Ramsey County, Minnesota, announced on Monday that they are investigating the arrest of a US citizen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The incident occurred on January 18 at the home of 56-year-old ChongLy “Scott” Thao in St. Paul.

Agents entered the property and detained Thao, who was wearing only boxer shorts and Crocs sandals, in freezing winter weather. Video footage shows agents breaking down the door of Thao's home during an immigration enforcement operation. Ramsey County officials stated that there was no legitimate reason for the forcible entry and no probable cause for the arrest.

Thao was detained for more than an hour before being released.

the Arrest Thao, who is Hmong-American, described the agents banging on his door on a Sunday afternoon before forcing entry.

He told the Associated Press that the agents did not show a warrant and yelled at him and his family. Thao said he was shaking during the encounter and was led out in handcuffs with a blanket draped around his shoulders. Agents drove Thao to a remote location in the frigid weather to photograph him, according to his account.

He was returned home approximately two hours later, where he then provided identification. The agents did not apologize for the detention or the damage to his door, Thao reported. Thao's family stated that the property is a rental occupied only by Thao, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.

None of the residents or the property owner appear on the Minnesota sex offender registry. The nearest registered sex offender in the ZIP code lives more than two blocks away.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent that ICE does not kidnap people and described the investigation as a political stunt.

The agency stated that officers were executing a warrant targeting two convicted sex offenders believed to have ties to the property. One target, Lue Moua, was already imprisoned on a kidnapping charge since 2024, with a scheduled release in January 2027, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

State prison officials noted that Moua was held on an ICE detainer, indicating the agency knew his location.

DHS said Thao refused fingerprinting or facial identification, leading to his temporary detention as standard protocol for safety during operations. Thao's family disputes this account, objecting to what they call false and misleading claims by the agency. Ramsey County officials have requested information from the Department of Homeland Security, including the names of the agents involved.

The county attorney stated that Thao is and has been a US citizen, questioning the law enforcement practices used. The sheriff asked whether detaining a citizen without cause constitutes appropriate procedure. St.

Paul officials commented on the incident, stating that ICE actions do not align with targeting hardened criminals but affect others in their path. The mayor described the approach as unacceptable.

The arrest occurred during an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that involved increased federal agent presence.

Local prosecutors are reviewing aspects of this operation, which led to the detention of thousands of individuals. The operation has drawn attention due to related incidents, including three fatalities in Minneapolis in January: Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti. More than two months after those events, investigations into the shootings remain ongoing.

A lawsuit filed by Minnesota officials last month seeks evidence from federal agencies regarding the incidents, alleging delays in information sharing. The lawsuit aims to prevent the destruction or alteration of evidence in one case. Hennepin County officials have demanded evidence in two of the fatal cases and launched a public website to collect additional information.

The state continues to pursue transparency in these matters amid national discussions on immigration enforcement policies.