Minnesota Man Detained by ICE Nearly Naked Sparks Outrage
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota man said he felt fear, shame, and desperation after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers forcibly removed him from his home while he was nearly naked.
ChongLy Thao, 56, a Hmong man born in Laos and a naturalized U.S. citizen, recounted that officers handcuffed him and dragged him into the snow wearing only shorts and sandals. He was later returned to his home on Sunday without explanation or apology.
“They just took me out there with no clothes and covered me with my grandson’s blanket,” Thao said Monday. “I was embarrassed and scared.” Neighbors were repairing the door damaged during the operation.
Videos of the incident, showing Thao barely clothed, circulated widely on social media, fueling public criticism of immigration enforcement tactics under President Donald Trump. ICE has deployed around 3,000 agents in the Minneapolis area as part of the crackdown.
Thao’s sister-in-law, Louansee Moua, described the scene as “heartbreaking.” She said it was snowing and below freezing when officers removed Thao. “Seeing him in that state is something you can’t forget,” she said.
Despite going willingly with officers, Thao did not know why he was being detained. Moua added that he is usually generous and calm, emphasizing that fear motivated his compliance.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said its officers were investigating two convicted sex offenders living at the address. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said Thao matched the description of the targets. She added, “It is standard protocol to detain all individuals in a house during an operation to ensure public and officer safety.”
Thao’s family disputed DHS’s account, stating that only Thao, his adult son, daughter-in-law, and young grandson live in the home. “The family does not know the individuals referenced in DHS’s statement,” they said in a statement Monday.
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