Overview
- Witness video shows agents breaking down the door and leading ChongLy Scott Thao outside in shorts and Crocs as temperatures hovered near 14°F.
- Thao, a 56-year-old naturalized citizen with no criminal record, was fingerprinted in a vehicle and returned home later that day without charges or an apology.
- DHS says the address was tied to two convicted sex offenders, asserts a resident matched descriptions and refused biometric identification, and has posted wanted notices for the men.
- Thao’s family rejects that account, says only close relatives live at the home, disputes any cohabitation with the suspects, and has launched a fundraiser to repair damage.
- St. Paul’s mayor and community members condemned the raid as part of a broader federal surge facing court limits, with ongoing lawsuits and appeals still in play.