ICE Agents Drag Naturalized Citizen Barefoot in Snow

On a frigid Sunday morning in Minnesota, a routine day turned into a traumatic ordeal for one local resident. ChongLy Thao, a 56-year-old naturalized American citizen born in Laos, was detained by federal agents in a raid that has since drawn widespread attention.

Temperatures in Saint Paul had reached a high of only -10º Celsius that day. Despite the freezing conditions, Thao was removed from his home wearing little more than boxer shorts and a pair of Crocs on his feet.

"I was praying. I thought: 'God, please help me, I did nothing wrong. Why are they doing this to me? Without my clothes.'"

According to reports, agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) forced their way into Thao's residence with weapons drawn. The agents handcuffed him and escorted him outside into the snow while he was partially clothed. Images of the incident, showing Thao covered only by a blanket, quickly circulated on social media.

Thao stated that he was listening to karaoke when he heard a loud noise at the door. He and his family hid in a room, where federal agents eventually found him. As he was being escorted out, Thao attempted to find his identity, but agents prevented him from putting on additional clothing.

He used a blanket belonging to his four-year-old grandson to cover his torso. After being driven to a nearby location for processing, where his fingerprints and photo were taken, he was returned to his home later that same Sunday without explanation or apology.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) addressed the raid, clarifying the nature of the operation. Officials stated that agents were investigating two convicted sex offenders at the address. They noted that an American citizen residing at the home refused to provide fingerprints or submit to facial identification, leading to his detention.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement defending the agents' conduct. She explained that Thao matched the description of the targets and that standard protocol requires securing all individuals in a house during an operation for the safety of the public and law enforcement.

The agency also released wanted posters for two individuals described as "illegal criminal aliens" from Laos who were the actual targets of the investigation. Relatives indicated that one of these men was a former resident and ex-husband of a family member, but had moved out prior to the raid.

Thao's family released a statement condemning the event as "unnecessary, degrading, and profoundly traumatizing." Thao, who arrived in the United States in 1974 at the age of four and became a citizen in 1991, expressed deep fear and confusion during the encounter.

His experience comes amidst a broader legal battle regarding enforcement tactics. Just days prior to this incident, a U.S. District Judge in Minnesota issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from using certain aggressive tactics that could inhibit constitutional rights to protest.

The judge’s order specifically cited prohibitions against drawing and pointing weapons, using pepper spray, and the detention of protesters or observers. The administration is currently appealing that ruling.

For Thao, the incident has raised profound questions about his place in the country he has called home for decades. Having fled Laos as a child, he has long feared being sent back to a country where he has no remaining relatives.

Reflecting on the event, Thao expressed his disillusionment with the current climate of enforcement. He questioned the purpose of his family's journey to America if the nation becomes defined by such aggressive actions.

"We came here with a purpose, right? ... To have a bright future. To have a safe place to live. If this place is going to become America, what are we doing here? Why are we here?"

The incident involving ChongLy Thao highlights the intense scrutiny surrounding immigration enforcement operations in the United States. As the administration continues to mobilize thousands of agents across regions like Minneapolis, individual encounters are increasingly coming under public review.

While the DHS maintains that their actions were standard procedure to ensure safety, the visual evidence and personal testimony have sparked significant concern regarding the treatment of individuals during raids. The legal and social implications of these tactics continue to evolve as court challenges proceed.