Ramsey County opens probe after federal agents allegedly detain Hmong American citizen in warrantless home raid
Key Takeaways
- Ramsey County prosecutors have launched an investigation into the January arrest of ChongLy “Scott” Thao, a Hmong American who officials say is a U.S. citizen, and are treating the incident as potential kidnapping, burglary and unlawful restraint.
- It has been reported that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents forcibly entered Thao’s St. Paul home without a search warrant and removed him while he was in minimal clothing during cold weather.
- County leaders will request records and cooperation from DHS (Department of Homeland Security); officials say the department has in some past cases declined local requests for information.
- The incident has heightened fear in immigrant communities and raises Fourth Amendment and civil‑rights questions about home entries by federal immigration agents.
What happened
Officials say ChongLy “Scott” Thao was detained in January after federal agents forced entry into his St. Paul residence, removed him in a blanket and underwear in near‑freezing conditions, and held him for hours before realizing he was a U.S. citizen and returning him home. It has been reported that federal authorities told local officials they were pursuing two sexual‑assault suspects at the time; Thao says he has never seen those men. The county prosecutor, John Choi, and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said Monday they will collect evidence to determine whether state crimes occurred.
Legal and procedural issues
ICE enforces immigration laws; DHS is the parent agency. Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement generally needs a warrant to enter a home unless there is consent or an exigent circumstance, though exceptions and different standards can apply to immigration enforcement and related criminal investigations. Ramsey County will ask DHS to produce records and cooperate with a local criminal probe into alleged kidnapping, burglary and illegal detention — charges the county says it is considering based on state law. It has been reported that DHS previously declined to provide information in other cases in the Minneapolis area, including incidents during the Trump administration that drew national scrutiny.
Human impact and next steps
For immigrants and Asian American communities — including Hmong Americans — the case reinforces longstanding fears that immigration enforcement can sweep up lawful residents or citizens and that federal‑local information sharing may be limited. Practically, county investigators can seek subpoenas or records and individuals who believe they were wrongly detained may pursue civil‑rights litigation or file complaints; anyone affected should consider contacting counsel or local civil‑rights groups for help. Ramsey County’s probe will be watched closely for whether it leads to charges or policy changes about federal entry and detention practices in private homes.
Source: Original Article