Minnesota Grandfather Says ICE Removed Him In Underwear During Raid; Officials Say Agents Were Searching For Two Suspects

ChongLy Scott Thao, a longtime U.S. citizen and grandfather who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, says Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents removed him from his home in just underwear, sandals and a blanket during a Jan. 18 operation. Federal officials say the agents were at the residence searching for two criminal suspects; the family's account and the agency's account conflict on key details.

What Happened

According to reporting by the Associated Press and statements from Thao's family, ICE agents arrived at the rental home Thao shares with his son, daughter-in-law and 4-year-old grandson. Family members say officers forced entry without showing a warrant, handcuffed Thao in front of his grandson, and took him outside in roughly 12-degree weather wearing only underwear, sandals and a blanket.

AP Photo/Jack BrookChongly "Scott" Thao at his home

"They didn’t show any warrant; they just broke down the door," Thao told the AP. "I was shaking."

ICE's Account

An ICE spokeswoman, Tricia McLaughlin, said agents were executing an operation to locate two people identified by the agency as Lue Moua and Kongmeng Vang. ICE says both men have felony records, were described by the agency as sex offenders, and have final orders of removal from an immigration judge. McLaughlin also said Thao "matched the description of the targets" and that it is standard protocol to hold all individuals present during a house operation for the safety of the public and law enforcement.

Disputed Details

The Thao family disputes ICE's account that the two men lived at the residence and says Thao has never seen them. Public records reviewed by media show the two men have felony histories but do not list them on Minnesota's sex offender registry, contrary to ICE's description. Family spokesperson Louansee Moua called the officers' treatment of Thao "distressing and demeaning."

Christopher Juhn/Anadolu via GettyICE agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2026

The family says Thao attempted to show identification to prove his citizenship while officers were inside the home, but that the agents did not accept it. According to the family and AP reporting, Thao was taken to an offsite location where agents later confirmed his U.S. citizenship; he returned home within hours. The family says the agents left without apologizing or addressing damage to the property.

Aftermath And Legal Response

The Thao family has filed complaints with the ACLU of Minnesota and the Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. They told reporters they are seeking legal counsel and intend to pursue a civil-rights lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. ICE did not respond to follow-up questions about the specifics of why the address was targeted or other operational details.

Context

According to the AP, ICE agents stopped Thao's son, Chris, before arriving at the home; officials told the AP that the car Chris was driving was registered to a person with the same first name as someone DHS sought to locate. A review by PEOPLE did not find property links tying Thao to the two individuals ICE said it was searching for.

As this is an active and contested account, public reporting reflects statements from both family members and federal officials. The family has asked for privacy while they pursue legal remedies.