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SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC Dressed only in his underwear, ChongLy Thao was brought outside by ICE agents. |
Federal immigration agents bashed open a door and detained a Hmong American US citizen in his Minnesota home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him out onto the streets in his underwear in subfreezing conditions, according to his family and videos reviewed by The Associated Press.
ChongLy “Scott” Thao told the AP that his daughter-in-law alerted him on Sunday afternoon that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were banging at the door of his residence in St. Paul, across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, the other half of the Twin Cities.
He told his daughter-iin-law not to open it. Masked agents then forced their way in and pointed guns at the Thao's daughter-iin-law and 4-year old grandson, yelling at them, Thao recalled.
“I was shaking,” said the 57-year oldThao, who at the time was dressed only in in his underwear and a pair of Crocs. “They didn’t show any warrant; they just broke down the door.”
He told his daughter-in-law to get his ID in the bedroom but the agents said they didn't need an ID. Then the agents handcuffed him and led Thao, wearing only his underwwear and Crocs into the sub-freezing weather to their vehicle. Someone was able to throw his crying grandson's blanket over him.
Neighbors were blowing whistles and yelling at the dozen-or-so armed masked agents. One of the onlookers recorded the incident. The video went viral.
According to various sources, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, herself a Hmong refugee, ICE agents are asking for the location of Asians in the Twin Cities, home to the countriy's largest community of Hmong and with large communities of Vietnamese refugees and Chinese Americans.
While Asians represent about 16% of the undocumented population in the US, they have historically made up a small fraction of ICE arrests. However, that share has grown as enforcement efforts expanded:
Five countries account for roughly 82% of Asian detainees:
• China (PRC): 30%
• India: 28%
• Vietnam: 15%
• Laos: 6%
• Nepal: 3%
Most of the Asian detainees were came from states with high Asian populations. Approximately 25% of Asian detainees in 2025 were from California, followed by Texas (14%) and New York (10%).
Despite the Trump regime's claim that they are targeting hardened criminals for deportation, a majority of Asian detainees in 2025 did not have a criminal record. The share of detainees with criminal convictions dropped significantly as ICE shifted focus toward broader "interior enforcement." in order to meet the regime's quota of 3,000 per daiy.
After being detained, for whatever reason, data shows Asian detainees are being moved between facilities more frequently, averaging 2.8 transfers per person in 2025, which can complicate access to legal counsel by removing the detainee from the family, but more importantly, from local legal support systems.
While ChongLy was not physically injured, the emotional and psychological harm has been profound. His daughter-in-law, who feared for her child’s safety, is deeply traumatized and now needs professional therapy. ChongLy also lives with severe psoriasis, a chronic condition that is significantly worsened by extreme stress. Since the incident, his health and emotional well-being have declined.
ChongLy “Scott” Thao told the AP that his daughter-in-law alerted him on Sunday afternoon that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were banging at the door of his residence in St. Paul, across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, the other half of the Twin Cities.
He told his daughter-iin-law not to open it. Masked agents then forced their way in and pointed guns at the Thao's daughter-iin-law and 4-year old grandson, yelling at them, Thao recalled.
“I was shaking,” said the 57-year oldThao, who at the time was dressed only in in his underwear and a pair of Crocs. “They didn’t show any warrant; they just broke down the door.”
He told his daughter-in-law to get his ID in the bedroom but the agents said they didn't need an ID. Then the agents handcuffed him and led Thao, wearing only his underwwear and Crocs into the sub-freezing weather to their vehicle. Someone was able to throw his crying grandson's blanket over him.
Neighbors were blowing whistles and yelling at the dozen-or-so armed masked agents. One of the onlookers recorded the incident. The video went viral.
According to various sources, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, herself a Hmong refugee, ICE agents are asking for the location of Asians in the Twin Cities, home to the countriy's largest community of Hmong and with large communities of Vietnamese refugees and Chinese Americans.
Asians are not safe from ICE
Recent data shows a significant increase in the detention and deportation of Asian immigrants over the last year. According to reports from the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and TRAC Immigration, the number of Asians arrested by ICE more than tripled in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.While Asians represent about 16% of the undocumented population in the US, they have historically made up a small fraction of ICE arrests. However, that share has grown as enforcement efforts expanded:
Thousands of Asians rounded up by ICE
Between February and July 2025, Asian arrests rose to 3,705, up from 1,054 in 2024.Five countries account for roughly 82% of Asian detainees:
• China (PRC): 30%
• India: 28%
• Vietnam: 15%
• Laos: 6%
• Nepal: 3%
Most of the Asian detainees were came from states with high Asian populations. Approximately 25% of Asian detainees in 2025 were from California, followed by Texas (14%) and New York (10%).
Despite the Trump regime's claim that they are targeting hardened criminals for deportation, a majority of Asian detainees in 2025 did not have a criminal record. The share of detainees with criminal convictions dropped significantly as ICE shifted focus toward broader "interior enforcement." in order to meet the regime's quota of 3,000 per daiy.
After being detained, for whatever reason, data shows Asian detainees are being moved between facilities more frequently, averaging 2.8 transfers per person in 2025, which can complicate access to legal counsel by removing the detainee from the family, but more importantly, from local legal support systems.
Most of the Hmong and Vietnamese in the Twin Cities area are, or are descended from, refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. They were granted refugee status by past administrations because they aided and fought for the US during the Vietnam War.
St. Paul Mayor Her, said that Asian residents, in the area, including her own parents, are living in fear, afraid to venture out for groceries, school or doctors' appointments. Earlier this month Her was installed as the city's first Asian American mayor, but nevertheless, she was advised to carry proof of citizenship with her.
“ICE drove him around for nearly an hour, questioned him, and fingerprinted him,” said his sister-in-law, Louansee Moua, in a Facebook post. “Only after all of that did they realize he had no criminal history and no reason to be detained. They then dropped him back off at his apartment like nothing happened.”
“ICE drove him around for nearly an hour, questioned him, and fingerprinted him,” said his sister-in-law, Louansee Moua, in a Facebook post. “Only after all of that did they realize he had no criminal history and no reason to be detained. They then dropped him back off at his apartment like nothing happened.”
DHS claims the agents believed that two convicted sex offenders lived at the address. Thao and his family dispute this saying they don't know the suspects and that only Thao, his son, daughter-in-law and grandson live at the rental home.
Mayor Her visited the family after the incident. ICE "ddn't ask for ID," said Her. "They didn't verify if it was the right person." She criticized ICE's actions as "irresponsible and reckless."
“ICE is not doing what they say they’re doing,” said Mayor Her. “They’re not going after hardened criminals. They’re going after anyone and everyone in their path. It is unacceptable and un-American.”
“ICE is not doing what they say they’re doing,” said Mayor Her. “They’re not going after hardened criminals. They’re going after anyone and everyone in their path. It is unacceptable and un-American.”
The family told the AP they are particularly upset by Thao’s treatment at the hands of the Trump regime because his mother had to flee to the US from Laos when communists took over in the 1970s since she had supported American covert operations in the country and her life was in danger.
Thao's door was broken and a gofund me account has been established for legal fees and to help pay for the repairs. What can't be repaired is Thao's faith in the US government doing the right thing.
“I don’t feel safe at all,” Thao told AP. “What did I do wrong? I didn’t do anything.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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