Ramsey County Investigates ICE Raid on U.S. Citizen as Kidnapping

Ramsey County officials in Minnesota announced Monday that they are investigating the January arrest of a Hmong American U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents as a potential case of kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment.

The probe centers on the January 18 incident involving Chong Ly Scott Thao, 56, whose St. Paul home was raided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. According to county authorities, the agents forced entry by bashing in the front door at gunpoint without presenting a warrant, then removed Thao from the residence in subfreezing temperatures, dressed only in underwear, sandals and a blanket. Video footage captured the event, showing more than a dozen armed agents confronting Thao's family, including his 4-year-old grandson, while neighbors blew whistles and horns and shouted for the officers to leave.

Thao, a longtime U.S. citizen with no criminal record, was handcuffed, driven to a remote location, photographed and questioned for about two hours before agents determined he was not the target of their operation. They then returned him home without apology or compensation for the damaged door. Thao has stated he had never seen the two...