Federal immigration agents forced their way into a St. Paul home Sunday, detaining a U.S. citizen at gunpoint without a warrant.
ChongLy “Scott” Thao, a citizen for decades, was led into the subfreezing Minnesota streets wearing only sandals and underwear.
The incident was captured on video as neighbors screamed at more than a dozen masked agents to leave the family alone.
Thao told The Associated Press that agents bashed down his door and ignored his offers to provide identification.
His 4-year-old grandson watched and cried as agents wrapped a blanket around Thao’s shoulders and handcuffed him.
Thao says agents drove him to a remote location and forced him into the cold to take his photograph.
“I was shaking,” Thao recalled, noting that he feared he would be beaten during the ordeal.
Agents eventually realized Thao was a citizen with no criminal record and returned him home two hours later.
The family claims agents left without apologizing for the detention or the damage to their front door.
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her slammed the operation, calling the tactics “unacceptable and un-American.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the raid, claiming they were searching for two convicted sex offenders.
DHS officials alleged Thao matched the description of a target and refused to cooperate with fingerprinting.
However, Thao’s family “categorically disputes” this, stating the suspects named by DHS have no connection to their home.
Records show no registered sex offenders living at the residence, and the nearest offender lives blocks away.
Thao’s son, Chris, believes the confusion started because he borrowed a car from a relative’s boyfriend who shared a first name with a suspect.
The Thao family has deep ties to U.S. service, having fled Laos after supporting CIA-backed operations during the “Secret War.”
Thao’s late mother was a nurse who treated American soldiers and Hmong fighters during the conflict.
Following the raid, Thao says he no longer feels safe sleeping in his own home.
The family is now planning to file a civil rights lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.
