Justice for ChongLy Thao: Demand Accountability from ICE for Wrongful Raid
Justice for ChongLy Thao: Demand Accountability from ICE for Wrongful Raid
The Issue
On January 18, 2026, federal immigration agents stormed into the St. Paul home of ChongLy “Scott” Thao, a naturalized U.S. citizen, without a warrant. With guns drawn, they handcuffed him and dragged him into the freezing Minnesota winter wearing only boxers, Crocs, and a blanket hastily thrown over him by a terrified family member. His 4-year-old grandson watched in fear as armed agents shouted and searched the home.
Thao—who immigrated to the U.S. from Laos in 1974 and became a citizen in 1991—has no criminal record. He was never shown a warrant, never told why he was being taken, and was denied the chance to retrieve his ID before being detained. After being fingerprinted and questioned for nearly an hour, ICE agents released him with no explanation, no apology, and left his family traumatized.
This violent, humiliating, and unconstitutional treatment of a U.S. citizen must not be ignored. ICE claims they were searching for sex offenders, but the family disputes any connection to the individuals ICE says they were targeting. Their home, their names, and their records don’t match the agency’s justification—and publicly available records confirm Thao has no criminal history.
This incident is not just about one man. It speaks to broader abuses of power, racial profiling, and disregard for constitutional rights. Minnesota leaders, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, have expressed outrage—but words alone are not enough.
We, the undersigned, demand:
- A full public investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General into the raid at Thao’s home.
- An official apology from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.
- Concrete disciplinary action against the agents involved.
- Legislation or executive action from the Minnesota legislature ensuring state-level oversight over federal immigration enforcement actions in residential homes.
No one—citizen or not—should be dragged from their home in their underwear without cause or due process. This is about basic human dignity, constitutional rights, and protecting all Minnesotans from government abuse.
Sign now to demand accountability and justice for ChongLy Thao.
Photo: Leah Millis / Reuters
64
The Issue
On January 18, 2026, federal immigration agents stormed into the St. Paul home of ChongLy “Scott” Thao, a naturalized U.S. citizen, without a warrant. With guns drawn, they handcuffed him and dragged him into the freezing Minnesota winter wearing only boxers, Crocs, and a blanket hastily thrown over him by a terrified family member. His 4-year-old grandson watched in fear as armed agents shouted and searched the home.
Thao—who immigrated to the U.S. from Laos in 1974 and became a citizen in 1991—has no criminal record. He was never shown a warrant, never told why he was being taken, and was denied the chance to retrieve his ID before being detained. After being fingerprinted and questioned for nearly an hour, ICE agents released him with no explanation, no apology, and left his family traumatized.
This violent, humiliating, and unconstitutional treatment of a U.S. citizen must not be ignored. ICE claims they were searching for sex offenders, but the family disputes any connection to the individuals ICE says they were targeting. Their home, their names, and their records don’t match the agency’s justification—and publicly available records confirm Thao has no criminal history.
This incident is not just about one man. It speaks to broader abuses of power, racial profiling, and disregard for constitutional rights. Minnesota leaders, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, have expressed outrage—but words alone are not enough.
We, the undersigned, demand:
- A full public investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General into the raid at Thao’s home.
- An official apology from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.
- Concrete disciplinary action against the agents involved.
- Legislation or executive action from the Minnesota legislature ensuring state-level oversight over federal immigration enforcement actions in residential homes.
No one—citizen or not—should be dragged from their home in their underwear without cause or due process. This is about basic human dignity, constitutional rights, and protecting all Minnesotans from government abuse.
Sign now to demand accountability and justice for ChongLy Thao.
Photo: Leah Millis / Reuters
64
The Decision Makers
Petition created on January 20, 2026