ICE Raid on U.S. Citizen Sparks St. Paul Protest, Leading to Federal Indictments
Jan 20, 2026 · Saint Paul, MN

On January 18, 2026, ICE agents conducted a raid on the home of ChongLy Scott Thao, a U.S. citizen with no criminal record, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Agents pointed guns at family members and handcuffed Thao without presenting a warrant; after confirming his citizenship through fingerprinting, ICE released him without apology or explanation. The incident occurred in front of his 5-year-old grandson. The raid prompted a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, where one of the pastors worked for ICE. Subsequently, 30 protesters have been indicted on federal crimes, along with civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong and journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for their roles in the demonstration.
Timeline
Sources
More incidents in Minnesota
- DHS surveilled Minnesota activists, unions with facial recognition and informantsAug 13, 2026 · Minneapolis, MN
- Father detained by ICE in May, family fights for his returnJul 31, 2026 · Minneapolis, MN
- Detained man files habeas petition challenging ICE detention in MinnesotaJul 22, 2026 · MN
- Twin Cities suburbs ban immigration searches on license plate camerasJul 21, 2026 · Fridley, MN
- Border Patrol apprehends suspects after chase from gas station to airport runwayJul 17, 2026 · Bemidji, MN
- Seven undocumented immigrants arrested in ICE targeted operation in BemidjiJul 16, 2026 · Bemidji, MN