ICE Arrests 13 at Pennsylvania Driver's License Facility

The detentions occurred at a PennDOT center in Armstrong County on Friday.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:54am

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According to multiple reports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 13 individuals at a driver's license facility in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania on Friday. The arrests were made after local police received calls about an unusually large number of people outside the PennDOT center in Kittanning.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement, particularly at government facilities where undocumented individuals may be seeking official identification documents. It raises questions about the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

The details

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that ICE responded to calls from the East Franklin Police Department after concerned citizens reported an abnormally large number of people outside the PennDOT driver licensing center. The 13 detained individuals were reportedly in the U.S. illegally and came from countries including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. One person allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted a law enforcement officer.

  • The arrests occurred on Friday, April 5, 2026.

The players

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the United States.

East Franklin Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that called ICE to the PennDOT driver's license facility in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

Jason Koontz

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security who provided details about the arrests.

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What they’re saying

“ICE responded to calls from the East Franklin Police Department 'after concerned citizens reported an abnormally large amount of individuals outside the PennDOT driver licensing center in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.'”

— Jason Koontz, Department of Homeland Security Spokesperson

What’s next

The incident remains under investigation, according to WTAE.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local communities, as well as the potential impacts on individuals seeking government identification documents. It raises questions about the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.