Media Claim: “ICE Drags Citizen in the Snow in His Underwear,” But There Is More to the Story

ChongLy “Scott” Thao was briefly taken into custody after he refused to allow agents to clear him using biometrics. Photo courtesy of People for Bernie Sanders via Facebook.

On January 18, 2026, ICE arrested ChongLy “Scott” Thao in St. Paul, Minnesota. The incident went viral because of footage showing Thao, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, being led from his home in sub-freezing weather wearing only underwear and sandals with a small blanket over his shoulders.

The Thao family states...