U.S. Citizen Detained by Masked ICE Agents in Scranton

Incident highlights concerns over federal immigration enforcement overreach in Northeast Pennsylvania

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A naturalized U.S. citizen was reportedly surrounded and detained by masked federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while driving home from work in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The citizen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed to hear one agent question whether they had "the wrong person," but was still held until producing a naturalization certificate. The incident has sparked renewed calls for local officials to enact policies protecting county resources and personnel from being used for federal immigration enforcement purposes.

Why it matters

This case underscores growing concerns about aggressive tactics by ICE agents and the impact on immigrant communities, even those with legal status. It also highlights the ongoing debate over the role of local governments in responding to federal immigration enforcement efforts, with some officials seeking to limit county resources being used for these purposes.

The details

According to the report in the University of Scranton's student newspaper The Aquinas, the anonymous U.S. citizen was pulled over by several masked ICE agents while driving home from work. The agents surrounded the citizen's vehicle, demanded they exit the car, and briefly detained them before reviewing their naturalization documents and allowing them to leave without explanation or apology.

  • The incident occurred on an unspecified date while the citizen was driving home from work.

The players

Samantha Sonnie

Editor-in-Chief of The Aquinas, the student newspaper at the University of Scranton, who broke the story.

Bill Gaughan

Lackawanna County Commissioner who has proposed the "Protect Our Neighbors Act" to limit county resources being used for federal immigration enforcement.

Josh Shapiro

Governor of Pennsylvania, whose administration issued an advisory urging the development of policies to respond to ICE agents seeking information or access at certain facilities.

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What they’re saying

“I hear one (agent) in the back say, 'I think we got the wrong person,' and the other one says, 'They all look the same. We gotta get this one,'”

— Anonymous U.S. citizen (The Aquinas)

“This is the life we live now. Fear.”

— Anonymous U.S. citizen (The Aquinas)

What’s next

Lackawanna County officials are continuing to review the proposed "Protect Our Neighbors Act" which aims to limit county resources being used for federal immigration enforcement. The Shapiro administration has also urged the development of written policies for how facilities should respond when ICE agents seek information or access.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and the role of local governments, with some officials seeking to balance public safety and civil liberties concerns. It underscores the need for clear policies and procedures to govern interactions between local authorities and federal immigration agents in order to protect the rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status.