U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents grabbed a well-known St. Paul community organizer outside the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center on Wednesday morning, hauling him away as the building was humming with neighborhood programs and temporary library services. Local reporters have identified the man as Thao Xiong. Cellphone video from bystanders shows officers handcuffing Xiong in the parking lot, then steering him toward a line of SUVs that pull out soon after.
Arrest Caught on Video Outside Hallie Q. Brown
In footage reviewed by reporters, agents close in on Xiong at about 7:30 a.m., place him in handcuffs, and guide him toward three black sport utility vehicles that then drive away. A staff member heard on the video tells the officers that Xiong is a volunteer at the center, and Xiong can be heard saying he already showed his documents. By Wednesday evening, it was still unclear where he was being held, according to TwinCities.
Part of a Larger ICE Push in the Twin Cities
Xiong's arrest is unfolding in the middle of a sweeping federal enforcement push that has brought thousands of ICE, Border Patrol and DHS officers into the Twin Cities, a campaign that has already triggered protests, lawsuits and sharp blowback from city leaders. Critics argue the operation has moved enforcement into everyday public spaces and trusted community hubs, deepening anxiety among immigrant residents, as reported by The Guardian.
Hallie Q. Brown Center Responds
The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, a long-running Rondo hub that the City of St. Paul says is temporarily hosting the Rondo Community Library's staff and books while the Dale Street branch is renovated, has been operating as a shared community and library space, according to the City of St. Paul. Center director Benny Roberts said staff are in contact with Xiong's family and community partners and are "working to ensure supports/resources," a message also shared in a written statement described by TwinCities.
Legal Questions and Community Reaction
Xiong's detention has revived debate over how and where ICE carries out interior enforcement; Minnesota officials have filed legal challenges, and judges are now examining parts of the broader campaign. Civil rights and immigrant defense organizations warn that arrests at community hubs could discourage people from seeking basic services and could fuel additional lawsuits, as reported by The Washington Post.
Neighbors and organizers say the scene outside the center left people rattled and amplified long-standing fears among Hmong and other immigrant residents who depend on neighborhood services. Staff at Hallie Q. Brown say they plan to keep programs running and to support affected families while community groups and legal advocates continue to push for answers and more transparency.
