Minnesota county sues over feds stonewalling investigation into ICE arrest

MINNEAPOLIS (CN) — A Minnesota county sued the Department of Homeland Security Wednesday, demanding evidence relating to an arrest by federal immigration agents that the county is investigating as a potential kidnapping.

According to Ramsey County — the second-most populous county in Minnesota, home to St. Paul —  a group of unnamed, masked and armed individuals appearing to be federal agents likely illegally detained 56-year-old U.S. citizen and Hmong immigrant ChongLy “Scott” Thao on Jan. 18.

Prosecutors say federal immigration agents forced their way into Thao’s St. Paul home, then handcuffed him and took him outside dressed only in shorts and Crocs in subfreezing temperatures.

A Homeland Security spokesperson told Courthouse News in April officers were executing a warrant targeting sexual predators tied to Thao’s property when they encountered him, though his family said those men did not live at the house.

Officials in the Ramsey County’s sheriff’s and county attorney’s offices opened a criminal investigation following the incident — though both offices say they’ve been met with roadblocks for months from Homeland Security when it comes to obtaining information.

Over three months have passed without any explanation or legal justification from federal agencies as to why the requested materials are being withheld, according to information outlined in the complaint.

“Historically, and up to January 2026, federal and state authorities have cooperated in criminal investigations and shared information promptly, including regarding actions of federal agents that may violate state criminal law,” county officials say in the complaint, noting the unprecedented nature of the federal government’s actions.

“Defendants’ refusal to share evidence in this incident here did not arise from any case-specific investigative need,” it added. “DHS’s decision to delay and effectively ignore requests from plaintiffs’ officials represents an effort to impair state investigations contrary to defendants’ wishes.”

County officials say they exhausted every administrative remedy to obtain the information in Thao’s arrest, and were left with no choice but to take legal action after numerous communication delays from government agencies.

Possible offenses for the federal agents involved in Thao’s investigation include burglary, false imprisonment and kidnapping, but those charges cannot be pursued without proper evidence and facts, according to the county.

“The principles of federalism do not enable the federal government to withhold investigative evidence for the purpose of concealing law enforcement officers from scrutiny,” officials say in the complaint.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher brought the Administrative Procedure Act suit in their official capacities against Homeland Security and its secretary, Markwayne Mullin.

Choi said in April there is no indication the agents had a warrant for entry or arrest.

The county’s suit comes on the heels of federal prosecutors’ decision to turn over key evidence long sought by the Minnesota and Hennepin County Attorneys’ Offices in their probe into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the evidence turned over by Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen’s office includes body camera video, withheld hard drives containing statements and other materials, along with the Honda Pilot Good was killed in.

“It should never have taken this long for Minnesota law enforcement to gain access to the federal government’s evidence surrounding the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a Hennepin County press release.

“I remain deeply troubled that the federal government spent more than half a year attempting to conceal this evidence from state investigators, and I hope this is the beginning of a major course correction on the part of the federal government,” he added.

Ellison and Moriarty have weighed criminal charges against the federal officers involved in the two killings for months, but were largely unable to paint the full picture until now.

Minnesota sued the Trump administration for evidence in the slayings back in March, claiming officials were stonewalled after sending formal requests to the government seeking access.

On the morning of the Good shooting, the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and FBI leadership in Minnesota reportedly agreed to conduct a joint investigation — an agreement that wouldn’t last the day before the government reneged.

The fallout of the Pretti shooting saw a more immediate exclusion of state investigators, as Minnesota claims the federal government physically blocked the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from accessing the scene of the shooting — prompting a lawsuit amid concern evidence might be destroyed.

State officials have long claimed both the authority and duty to investigate crimes committed within state territory under the 10th Amendment’s establishment of state powers.

Moriarty said Monday the state is not yet ready to dismiss their lawsuit as disputes remain.

The supremacy clause of the Constitution provides federal officials with broad protection from state prosecution for actions taken in the course of their lawful duties, though it does not provide absolute immunity, and federal officers may be found criminally liable under state law.

Homeland Security did not respond to an initial request for comment.