U.S. citizen says ICE detained him without a warrant in Minnesota

Family members and videos reviewed by The Associated Press say federal immigration agents forced entry into a St. Paul home and detained long-time U.S. citizen ChongLy Thao without showing a warrant; the Department of Homeland Security said the operation targeted two convicted sex offenders and that the individual matched a description.

Family members and videos reviewed by The Associated Press report that federal immigration agents forced entry into a St. Paul home and detained ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a long-time U.S. citizen, without showing a warrant. The incident occurred amid a large deployment of federal agents to the Twin Cities that has prompted local criticism. The Department of Homeland Security described the action as a targeted operation seeking two convicted sex offenders and said the man at the site matched a description and refused biometric identification. Thao's family disputes the DHS account and says household members are not listed in the local sex offender registry. Known details: - Family members and AP-reviewed video say agents forced entry and detained ChongLy Thao in St. Paul without presenting a warrant. - The Department of Homeland Security said the operation targeted two convicted sex offenders and that the person at the site matched the description and refused fingerprinting or facial ID. - Thao says agents later determined he was a U.S. citizen with no criminal record and returned him to his home; his family disputes DHS's description of events. - Thao says he plans to file a civil rights lawsuit and no longer feels safe in his home. Summary: The incident has heightened local concern about federal enforcement activities in the Twin Cities and underscores differing accounts between officials and the family. Thao intends to pursue a civil rights lawsuit, and the dispute over what occurred remains unresolved.