US Citizen Says ICE Got the Wrong Home – And He Ended up Outside in His Underwear

Federal immigration agents barged into a Minnesota home without a warrant, guns drawn, and detained a terrified U.S. citizen in nothing but his underwear, family says.

It began with a knock, but then erupted into chaos. According to shocking firsthand accounts and videos, ChongLy "Scott" Thao was jolted awake by his daughter-in-law, warning that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) were pounding at the door. This was the start of a terrifying ordeal for him and his family.

Nap Turns to Nightmare as Armed Agents Storm Family Home

A Sunday afternoon nap ended abruptly when Thao's daughter-in-law woke him to say ICE agents were at the door. He told her not to open it, but agents forced their way into the St. Paul home. Thao recalled that they pointed guns at the family and shouted orders.

"I was shaking. They didn't show any warrant; they just broke down the door," he noted. Thao was escorted outside wearing only sandals and shorts, a blanket draped over his shoulders as he stepped into the freezing air. His four-year-old grandson watched and cried.

Videos captured the scene as neighbors blew whistles and horns and shouted at the more than a dozen armed agents to leave the family alone.

"They just handcuff me right there," he shared. "They just take me out there with no clothes on, unless only the blanket — only my grandson's blanket. Cover me, take me out there to the car. They didn't say anything that was wrong [sic]."

ICE Refuses to Check ID as Fear Builds

Thao, who has held U.S. citizenship for decades, said he tried to have his daughter-in-law bring him his identification while agents were holding him, but they refused to look at it.

He added that the agents drove him "to the middle of nowhere" and ordered him out of the car in the frigid cold so they could take photos. Thao said he feared they would beat him. Agents later asked for his ID, even though they had earlier stopped him from showing it to them.

They eventually realized he was a U.S. citizen with no criminal record, Thao said, and about an hour or two later, they brought him back home. There, they had him show his identification and then left without apologizing for detaining him or breaking down his door.

Raid Justified with Claims of Mistaken Identity

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the raid at Thao's home was part of a targeted operation aimed at arresting two convicted sex offenders.

The agency claimed Thao lived at the same residence as the suspects and that he refused to submit to fingerprinting or facial identification. They also alleged that he matched the description of the people agents were searching for.

Thao's family rejected the DHS's explanation of the raid, saying the agency's account was false and intended to justify its actions. They said only Thao, his son, his daughter‑in‑law, and his young grandson live in the St. Paul rental, and that neither they nor the property owner appear in the Minnesota sex offender registry.

Public records show the nearest registered sex offender in the zip code lives more than two blocks away. DHS did not provide details when asked about the identities of the two convicted sex offenders it said it was seeking or why it believed they were at Thao's home.

Before ICE agents went to detain his father, Thao's son, Chris, was stopped while driving to work in a car he had borrowed from his cousin's boyfriend. Court records show that the boyfriend shares a first name with another Asian man who has a conviction for a sex offense, but the two are not the same person.

Family Plans Lawsuit Against DHS After Shocking Ordeal

Thao said he plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the DHS and no longer feels safe sleeping in his home. He shared that he does not understand why he was targeted since he had done nothing wrong.

The family said they are especially troubled by Thao's treatment by the U.S. government because his mother had fled to the U.S. from Laos in the 1970s. This was after the communists took over the country, due to her support for American covert operations and the danger to her life.

As per the Hmong Nurses Association, Thao's adopted mother, Choua Thao, was a nurse who cared for CIA-backed Hmong soldiers during the U.S. government's "Secret War" from 1961 to 1975.

According to a statement on a GoFundMe page set up by Thao's daughter-in-law, Louansee Moua, she treated numerous civilians and American soldiers while working closely with U.S. personnel. She passed away in late December 2025.

ICE Operations in Minnesota Already Under Fire

ICE arrests of U.S. citizens have previously drawn attention in Minnesota. In early January, an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in her car during an operation in Minneapolis. In response, Governor Tim Walz ordered the state's National Guard to prepare while urging residents to protest peacefully.

Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey disputed the federal government's account of the events that led to the shooting of the 37-year-old woman. She was identified by council members as Renee Nicole Good, a city resident.

Both officials said the government's description did not match available evidence and challenged claims that the use of force was justified. Walz said the shooting was "preventable" and "unnecessary," adding, "We have someone dead in their car for no reason whatsoever."

Top Officials Defend Federal Agent Involved in Shooting

President Donald Trump defended the ICE officer involved in the Minneapolis shooting, stating that the officer acted in self-defense. He described the woman driving the car as disorderly, obstructing, and resisting. Trump claimed she ran over the officer, which prompted him to fire.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and characterized the vehicle involved as a deadly weapon. "Deadly force is perfectly lawful when a threat is faced by a weapon," she asserted.

Noem explained that law enforcement officers were conducting an enforcement action when a vehicle became stuck in the snow, prompting them to call for additional assistance. While the officers were attempting to free the vehicle, protesters arrived and began impeding their movement, preventing the vehicles from leaving the scene.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin supported the statements made by Trump and Noem. She stated that the woman was allegedly attempting to run over law enforcement officers when an ICE officer fatally shot her.

The spokesperson stated that the ICE officer, fearing for his own life, the lives of fellow law enforcement personnel, and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.

Mayor Frey Denounces Federal Account as False

However, Frey disputed the federal government's claim that the ICE agent acted in self-defense. The mayor said that available video of the incident did not support that account. He described the agent's actions as reckless, resulting in the woman's death.

Frey emphasized that the victim, a U.S. citizen, was not using her vehicle as a weapon and had been observing events in her neighborhood while looking out for immigrant neighbors.

He criticized the federal presence in the city and called for ICE to leave Minneapolis. "We've dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis," he added.

Officials Confirm How the Woman Died

City officials said the woman sustained gunshot wounds to the head and was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating coordination with the FBI.

Commissioner Bob Jacobson said, "Keep in mind that this is an investigation that is also in its infancy, so any speculation about what had happened would be just that, and we will not engage in speculation."

Meanwhile, Walz stated that the state is committed to a thorough, fair, and timely investigation to ensure accountability and justice. The FBI confirmed that the incident is under review and that it is collaborating closely with state and local law enforcement agencies.

ICE and Homeland Security Agents Deploy in Growing Numbers

The Twin Cities are experiencing a large-scale deployment of ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents (HSI). According to multiple sources familiar with their plans, the agents are to carry out immigration enforcement and fraud investigations.

Up to 2,000 agents could be sent to the Minneapolis area, although the exact number may change. Reports indicate that as many as 600 HSI agents and 1,400 ICE agents could be part of the expanded operation.

The increased federal presence has raised concerns among U.S. citizens in the area, who have expressed fear for their safety given how the operations are being conducted.