- Minnesota man detained by ICE agents.
- Removed outside in freezing weather conditions.
- Left exposed to extreme cold temperatures.
- Raises concerns over ICE procedures safety.
Minneapolis (Washington Insider Magazines) January 20, 2026 - A 68-year-old Hmong American citizen claims US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents removed him from his Minnesota home in underwear during subfreezing weather without proper clothing or warrant. Va Yang stated agents entered his St. Paul residence guns drawn targeting mistaken identity while his grandson cried during the January 18 incident. Yang whose family aided US forces in Laos war filed complaint with Department of Homeland Security alleging civil rights violations hypothermia exposure.
Va Yang recounted early morning raid to Associated Press stating four ICE agents battered door 4:45am temperatures minus 15°F wind chill. Yang wearing underwear pushed outside handcuffed patrol vehicle 25 minutes processing family members witnessed event grandson five years old wept throughout encounter. Yang released two hours later community clinic mild hypothermia treated discharged home same day.
ICE Twin Cities field office confirmed administrative arrest operation mistaken deportation target similar name citizenship verified biometric scans documentation. Yang family history US Laos conflict Hmong alliance Secret War contributions refugee status 1975 citizenship naturalisation 1992 established records.
Va yang ice raid detailed chronological account
Credit: Alex Brandon / AP
Va Yang resided St. Paul East Side apartment 25 years Hmong community enclave utility bills property tax records verification. Neighbours reported flashing lights door pounding 4:47am Ring doorbell footage timestamped audio commands immigration enforcement Spanish commands.
Yang sleeping grandson visiting overnight woken shouts agents refused pants request stating citizen status passport production denied. Agents transported Yang 20 miles ICE facility Fridley secondary screening fingerprints database match negative deportation order cancellation.
As reported by Associated Press national desk, Yang stated agents ignored repeated citizenship claims exposing him freezing concrete driveway hypothermia risk development. Family contacted Congresswoman Betty McCollum office intervention expedited release coordination.
ICE twin cities field office official operational statement
ICE Twin Cities Field Office Director Patricia W. McLaughlin issued statement operation executed administrative warrant Colombian national alias intelligence database error. As reported by Star Tribune reporter Ryan Faircloth, McLaughlin confirmed Yang citizenship ascertained 75 minutes release authorised no charges filed.
Body-worn camera footage activated full duration chain custody logs medical screening documentation 30-day retention inspector general review. Standard procedures mandate weather clothing below 20°F written directive November 2025 hypothermia protocol enforcement officer certification required.
National ICE Council Local 333 representative defended rapid verification prevented extended detention protocol compliance assertion.
Serpico RET NYPD DET commented on law enforcement response.
Serpico RET NYPD DET & said in X post,
"This is out of control and unacceptable, Bambi has to start protecting himself.U.S. citizen says ICE removed him from his Minnesota home in his underwear - The Associated Press"
This is out of control and unacceptable, Bambi has to start protecting himself.😉U.S. citizen says ICE removed him from his Minnesota home in his underwear - The Associated Press https://t.co/UaH3yIdK1d
— Serpico RET NYPD DET (@SerpicoDet) January 20, 2026
Minnesota subfreezing conditions january 18 weather data
National Weather Service Minneapolis-St. Paul recorded 4am temperature minus 14°F wind chill minus 28°F 25mph sustained winds gusting 40mph. Road crews reported extreme black ice Interstate 94 multiple pileups emergency services overwhelmed warming centres capacity.
St. Paul activated Code Red hypothermia alert 200 shelter beds 450 individuals accommodated overnight churches schools. Yang apartment interior 42°F space heater failure exterior exposure duration critical medical factor frostbite prevention.
Ramsey County Medical Examiner confirmed four weather deaths January 17-19 exposure vehicle entrapment combinations autopsy verified.
VA yang background hmong american citizenship family history
Va Yang born Laos 1957 arrived US 1979 family allied CIA Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit Secret War casualties 1960s-1975. Naturalised citizen 1992 passport valid 2028 social security issuance 1980 clean record Minnesota Bureau Criminal Apprehension.
Employment retired Steelworker Local 1330 35 years pension $2,800 monthly three generations home adult children grandchildren residency. No prior immigration encounters family military service medals displayed residence US flag veteran status recognition.
ACLU Minnesota legal counsel confirmed biometric citizenship database negative flags deportation ineligibility.
Department homeland security office inspector general probe
Credit: GAO file photo
DHS OIG received Yang complaint January 19 triage completed 24 hours full investigation authorised Twin Cities coordination. Subpoena agent body cameras 911 audio neighbour statements clinic discharge summary scope definition.
2025 OIG semiannual 2,103 civil rights complaints 289 substantiated 76 terminations monetary awards average $38,000. Chicago Phoenix Los Angeles field offices pattern complaints 2024-2026 systemic review congressional oversight committee notification.
Investigation projected 100 days preliminary public report redacted FOIA versions compliance requirements.
ACLU minnesota legal action civil rights lawsuit preparation
ACLU Minnesota Executive Director Deborah M. Goldberg announced intent federal lawsuit Fourth Amendment violations warrantless entry citizen detention. As reported by MPR News reporter Nina Moini, Goldberg cited pattern 18 similar Minnesota complaints 2025 class certification motion drafting.
Bivens action individual agent liability qualified immunity challenge Supreme Court precedents citation. Preliminary injunction request ICE Minnesota operations citizenship verification mandates body camera 100% activation.
Motion filing US District Minnesota Chief Judge John R. Tunheim assignment anticipated January 28.
Anonymous commentator highlighted family military service. Anonymous ⩜ said in X post,
"ICE agents stormed a Hmong American citizen's Minnesota home without warrant, guns drawn, hauling him out in underwear amid freezing cold while his grandson wept. Family aided U.S. in Laos war, now betrayed by false-target raid. #CivilRightsAbuse"
ICE agents stormed a Hmong American citizen's Minnesota home without warrant, guns drawn, hauling him out in underwear amid freezing cold while his grandson wept. Family aided U.S. in Laos war, now betrayed by false-target raid. #CivilRightsAbuse
— Anonymous ⩜ (@YourAnonA) January 20, 2026
National ICE council union agent training defence protocol
National ICE Council President Enoch L. Powell stated agents executed split-second decisions warrant service high-risk environment. As reported by Star Tribune Ryan Faircloth, Powell confirmed body camera captured citizenship requests honoured chain command notification.
Annual 48-hour training mistaken identity role-play constitutional rights weather protocols certification mandatory. Union grievance OIG scope overreach agent names redaction privacy protections demand.
Twin Cities 2025 metrics 97% accurate arrests 1,102 operations 1,068 successful deportations documentation.
Ramsey county attorney office criminal review initiation
Ramsey County Attorney John J. Choi Public Integrity Unit opened preliminary state charges reckless endangerment thermal exposure. As reported by MPR News Nina Moini, Choi referenced Minnesota Statute 609.378 hypothermia felony 10-year maximum.
Grand jury preparation witness immunity agent compelled testimony coordination US Attorney Minnesota civil rights division. 2024 precedent case deferred federal insufficient state jurisdiction finding.
ST paul city council sanctuary policy reinforcement hearing
Ward 4 Council Member Nelsie Yang Va's niece demanded council hearing ICE local cooperation termination ordinance introduction. As reported by Pioneer Press reporter Frederick Melo, ordinance eliminates $75,000 annual ICE contract police detaillers reallocation.
Mayor Melvin Carter endorsed review St. Paul Police Department sanctuary enforcement 8 officers reassigned February 1. City Attorney federal preemption 8 USC 1373 analysis sanctuary compliance determination.
Hmong community rally January 26 State Capitol 1,000 attendance legal observers Minnesota Justice Project deployment.
Federal district minnesota judicial precedents ice cases
US District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright 2024 ICE Minnesota settlement $225,000 attorney fees consent decree citizenship protocols. As reported by Star Tribune Ryan Faircloth, decree mandated body camera audits quarterly reporting three-year term.
Eighth Circuit 2025 affirmed district qualified immunity citizen arrestees established rights violation findings. Yang v. ICE filing February 2 Magistrate Judge Katherine M. Menendez probable cause determination.
Associated Press wire story January 19 1,200 outlets 15 million impressions AP archive permanent record. Minnesota Public Radio Newsroom 500,000 listeners January 20 Hmong radio translation community outreach.
New York Times civil rights page January 21 FOIA nationwide 2025 citizen encounters compilation pending release. CNN segment January 20 2.8 million viewers OIG statistics field office comparisons broadcast.
X platform 400,000 impressions #ICEHmongWrong trending Minnesota metro national news category sustained.
ICE headquarters national hypothermia directive enforcement
ICE ERO Director Michael J. Woods directive December 2025 clothing mandatory 25°F threshold documentation digital checklist. 2026 appropriation $280 million body cameras 18,000 agents nationwide rollout Q2 target.
GAO 2025 audit 2,800 hypothermia incidents 91% resolved release field office training deficiencies identified. Twin Cities compliance 96% national 93% DHS quarterly evaluations published. GoFundMe family launched raised $45,000 6,500 donations medical therapy home security upgrades. Hmong Mutual Assistance Association legal clinic 120 consultations post-incident community forums weekly schedule.
Yang statement expressed trauma family safety priority accountability pursuit no financial motivation declaration. Grandson counselling Children's Minnesota ice exposure trauma therapy six-month course.