A Department of Homeland Security official found herself in a wildly implausible position after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a warrantless raid in St. Paul, Minnesota, detaining U.S. citizen ChongLy “Scott” Thao in his underwear in freezing conditions — only to release him later without charges. Thao’s family and local leaders sharply dispute DHS’s claim that he matched the description of convicted sex offenders they were seeking, pointing out that no such offenders lived at the home, and have accused the agency of misleading the public. The bizarre incident, captured on video and condemned by neighbors and officials alike, has become a flashpoint in the broader backlash to aggressive federal immigration enforcement in the region.
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