ICE raid wrongly detains St. Paul citizen in shorts and Crocs
FOX 9 reports that federal agents broke down the door of a St. Paul home on Sunday and hauled away ChongLy Scott Thao — a U.S. citizen — wearing only shorts, Crocs and a baby’s blanket in winter conditions, saying he matched two convicted sex offenders they were seeking. DHS later claimed Thao lived with those offenders, but his family says they moved into the house two years ago and that ICE was likely after a previous resident, adding that agents never asked for his ID before taking him. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who visited the family, publicly blasted ICE’s account as "irresponsible and reckless" and said the named offenders do not live there, warning that Hmong residents now fear ICE more than the Communist forces many fled in Laos. Thao’s mother — one of the early Hmong nurses who treated Americans during the Secret War — recently died, with funeral services scheduled in February, and the family has launched a GoFundMe to repair their shattered door and cover related costs. ICE has refused to answer FOX 9’s specific questions about how they identified Thao or why they wouldn’t let him dress properly, deepening community anger over federal tactics already under fire across the Twin Cities.
📌 Key Facts
- Federal agents broke down the door of a St. Paul home Sunday and detained U.S. citizen ChongLy Scott Thao wearing only shorts, Crocs and a baby’s blanket in winter weather.
- ICE and DHS say Thao lived with two convicted sex offenders they were targeting; his family says they moved into the home two years ago and that those offenders do not live there.
- St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her met with the family, condemned ICE’s statement as "irresponsible and reckless," and highlighted growing fear in the Hmong‑American community.
- Thao’s family has started a GoFundMe to pay for a new door and other expenses; ICE has not answered detailed questions about the mistaken detention or its protocols.
📊 Relevant Data
More than 170 U.S. citizens were detained by immigration agents in 2025, highlighting the frequency of mistaken detentions.
Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents ... — ProPublica
St. Paul, Minnesota, has the largest Hmong population per capita in the United States at 10.0%, with 28,591 Hmong Americans.
Hmong Americans - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Minnesota's Hmong population is approximately 94,000, one of the largest in the country.
Hmong Americans immigrated to the United States primarily as refugees in the late 1970s following their alliance with the U.S. during the Secret War in Laos, leading to persecution after the communist takeover.
Hmong Americans - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
The Hmong-alone population in the U.S. has grown by 89% since 2000, from 175,000 to roughly 330,000.
Hmong | Data on Asian Americans — Pew Research Center
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