Key Details of the Incident:
- The Subject: The man detained has been identified as ChongLy Thao, a U.S. citizen who has lived in the country for decades.
- The Incident: Thao was taken from his home in his underwear and sandals, handcuffed, and detained for 1–2 hours in freezing temperatures before being released.
- ICE's Position: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated this was a "targeted operation" to arrest two convicted sex offenders. DHS claimed that Thao "matched the description of the targets," lived with the subjects, and refused to be fingerprinted or identified, which led to his detention.
- Family's Position: Thao's family "categorically disputes" the claims, stating that he is not a sex offender, has no criminal record, and that they do not know the individuals ICE was allegedly searching for.
