Minnesota Man Detained in ICE Operation; Questions Raised About Procedure
St. Paul, MN – A Minnesota man, ChongLy “Scott” Thao, claims he was wrongly detained by federal immigration agents at his home on Sunday. Thao alleges that agents forced entry without presenting a warrant, and he was briefly held despite being a U.S. citizen.
According to Thao, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered his home, reportedly searching for two convicted sex offenders. Thao claims he was taken outside in his underwear and photographed in cold weather before agents realized he was not their target and released him.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the operation was “targeted” and that the U.S. citizen lived with the wanted individuals, while the individual refused to be fingerprinted or facially ID’d and matched the description of the targets. However, Thao’s family disputes this account, saying he lives only with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, and that no one residing there is on the sex offender registry.
This incident raises questions about the protocols used during immigration enforcement actions and whether they adequately protect the rights of law-abiding citizens. It also highlights the difficult job law enforcement has in enforcing our nation’s laws.
