A pre-dawn ICE raid in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has drawn criticism from the family of ChongLy Scott Thao. They say federal agents violated his constitutional rights and basic dignity when they detained him at his home on January 18. In October 2025, ProPublica published the most comprehensive tally of U.S. citizen detentions to date, finding more than 170 incidents during the first nine months of Trump’s second administration. A December 2025 report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, led by Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, documented 22 U.S. citizens detained between June and November 2025 through direct interviews. Historical data from 2015-2020 shows ICE arrested 674 potential citizens, detained 121, and deported 70. In a written statement released January 19, Thao’s family “categorically disputes” the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) public characterization of the raid and accuses ICE agents of entering the residence without a warrant, failing to properly identify themselves, and removing Thao from his home wearing only underwear in sub-freezing temperatures. The family says the raid happened at the Saint Paul home where Thao lives with his son, daughter-in-law, and young grandson. They say DHS described the operation as targeting other people, but Thao does not know those individuals and has never lived with them. The family describes the events as follows: The family says ICE agents did not show a warrant or ask for identification before entering the home with weapons drawn. They say Thao went with ICE willingly, believing he had done nothing wrong. The family says ICE removed Thao from his home wearing only underwear in 12-degree weather, in front of his family and neighbors. They say Thao has severe psoriasis, a chronic skin condition made worse by cold and stress. The family calls the treatment unnecessary and degrading. The family says DHS’s public account of the raid is false and misleading, and they object to what they see as an attempt to justify the agents’ actions. Working with the ACLU of Minnesota and the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the family says they plan to pursue legal action. The family states that: Thao does not know the individuals referenced in DHS’s statement. None of those individuals has ever lived at the Saint Paul address where the raid occurred. The “only people residing at the home” are Thao, his son, his daughter‑in‑law, and his grandson. Constitutional protections apply when ICE agents enter a private home. Immigration law allows ICE to make civil arrests, but the Fourth Amendment still limits how those arrests can happen. Under long‑standing Supreme Court precedent, law‑enforcement officers generally may not enter a person’s home to make an arrest without either: A warrant issued by a neutral judge or magistrate that authorizes entry and/or search of that specific address; or Voluntary consent from someone with authority over the residence; or Exigent circumstances, such as hot pursuit of a fleeing suspect, imminent destruction of evidence, or immediate danger to life or safety. Most ICE paperwork is administrative and issued by the agency, not a court. Legal groups say these administrative warrants, like DHS Form I-200, do not let agents enter a private home without consent. Civil rights groups say agents who come to a home should: Clearly identify themselves and their agency; State the purpose of the visit; Present any warrant for inspection, allowing occupants to verify that it is signed by a judge and lists the correct name and address; and Respect a resident’s decision not to open the door or to refuse entry when only administrative documents are presented. Even with a warrant or legal reason for arrest, officers must use only reasonable force and avoid actions that are degrading or harmful. Training materials and “know your rights” resources describe appropriate conduct as including: Allowing the person to dress in weather‑appropriate clothing, whenever safely possible; Taking into account medical conditions, medications, or disabilities, especially when exposure to extreme cold or stress might worsen those conditions; Avoiding unnecessary public humiliation, such as prolonged exposure in a state of undress in front of neighbors or family members; Minimizing the display of weapons unless there is a specific safety concern. ICE cannot detain or deport U.S. citizens for immigration reasons. If a citizen is arrested for a crime, that case usually goes through local, state, or federal criminal courts, not immigration channels. As of the family’s statement, DHS had not released its full public statement about the raid, and ICE had not responded to the specific claims about Thao’s treatment. Civil rights groups say agents have used administrative warrants or deceptive tactics to enter homes, sometimes without a judge’s approval. In Oregon, there are reports of ICE agents posing as utility workers. Beyond Thao’s individual case, the incident feeds into broader debates about the scope of ICE’s authority in the interior of the United States, the transparency of its operations, and whether existing guidance is sufficient to prevent abuses—especially in home raids where families, children, and medically vulnerable individuals are often present.