A Minnesota Man's Unsettling Encounter with ICE

In a chilly Sunday morning in Saint Paul, Minnesota, ChongLy Thao, a 56-year-old naturalized U. S. citizen, found himself in a terrifying situation. ICE officers stormed his home, broke down the door, and dragged him outside in just his shorts and Crocs. The temperature was a mere 14 degrees Fahrenheit, making the ordeal even more harrowing. Thao, who goes by the name Scott, was left feeling humiliated and confused. He was praying, asking God why this was happening to him. He had done nothing wrong. Neighbors were later seen fixing the broken door, a stark reminder of the incident. Pictures of Thao, barely clothed and wrapped in a blanket, spread quickly on social media. This incident has raised concerns about the actions of federal law enforcement officers, especially under President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Over 3, 000 officers have been deployed in the Minneapolis area, leading to such aggressive tactics. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that officers were investigating two convicted sex offenders at the address. They claimed that Thao refused to be fingerprinted or facially identified, which led to his detention. However, Thao's family described the incident as unnecessary, degrading, and deeply traumatizing.DHS also published wanted posters for the two men targeted in the investigation, describing them as criminal illegal aliens from Laos. One of the men had previously lived at Thao's house but had since moved out. Meanwhile, a U. S. District Judge in Minnesota issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration from using aggressive tactics that could intimidate ordinary citizens. The Trump administration is appealing this injunction. Thao, who came to the U. S. from Laos in 1974 and became a citizen in 1991, feared being sent back to a country where he has no relatives. He was singing karaoke when the officers broke in. He and his family hid in a bedroom, where the officers found him. Thao was trying to find his ID when he was escorted out of the house. He was denied the chance to put on more clothes and was taken outside in just his boxer shorts and Crocs. He used a blanket that his four-year-old grandson had been sleeping with to cover himself. After taking his fingerprints and a headshot in the car, officers returned him home. Thao's question echoes the sentiments of many: "If this is going to turn out to be America, what are we doing here? Why are we here? "