ICE Raid on U.S. Citizen Sparks St. Paul Protest, Leading to Federal Indictments
Jan 20, 2026·Location: 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
- St. Paul anti-ICE church protest: 30 more people indicted
- 30 more indicted in anti-ICE protest at St. Paul church
twincities.com·Feb 27, 2026·archived copy
- CourtListener
- Donate to Support ChongLy Scott Thao's Family After ICE Raid Trauma, organized by LOUANSEE MOUA
GoFundMe·Jan 19, 2026·archived copy
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