KITTANNING, PENNSYLVANIA — A tip from a local firefighter and other community members led to the arrest of 13 illegal immigrants outside a Pennsylvania DMV licensing center near Kittanning on Friday, after witnesses reported an unusually large number of people — many operating tractor-trailers — gathered at the facility. The scene turned chaotic when some individuals fled on foot and abandoned their vehicles in the street as ICE agents arrived.
Armstrong County Sheriff Frank Pitzer confirmed the scene turned chaotic. “It went even as far as people exiting their vehicles and abandoning them on the street,” Pitzer said. He noted that only a “handful” of agents initially responded to handle what he described as “over 100 people” at the scene. While Pitzer said he supports the enforcement efforts, he called for a “better plan” in future operations of this scale.
How It Started
Zach Scherer, a Butler-area firefighter who was present at the 2024 Trump rally in Butler County, drove past the West Kittanning Driver License Center Friday morning and noticed an unusual number of people outside. He filmed the scene and contacted both local law enforcement and DHS Pittsburgh to report it. “That’s when police came, as well as ICE. Later in the afternoon when I got to the DMV, there was still ICE present and 13 illegals were arrested,” Scherer said.
East Franklin Township Police Department also called ICE after multiple citizens independently reported an “abnormally large amount of individuals outside the DLC in Kittanning,” according to a DHS spokesperson.
Gary Klingensmith, a neighbor of the DLC, described seeing officers open big-rig cab doors, with “like 10 people came out” of some of them. People ran through yards to escape ICE, and multiple big rigs were parked in the DLC lot.
Another man entered the DLC and filmed people in line, asking where they were from. Some said “China” and “Pakistan.” It remains unclear whether any of those individuals were among the 13 ultimately arrested.
Who Was Arrested
A DHS spokesperson confirmed 13 illegal immigrants were arrested, including individuals from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. One may face additional charges of resisting arrest and assault on an officer. “Residents thanked ICE for investigating their concerns and responding to their calls. The incident remains under investigation,” the spokesperson said.
What PennDOT Says
PennDOT spokesperson Alexis Campbell said the agency did not coordinate with federal officials in any capacity and said the large gathering was likely tied to routine record updates. “The West Kittanning Driver License Center was processing medical form updates for current holders of non-domiciled commercial learner’s permit or driver license holders, which resulted in a large number of customers at West Kittanning,” Campbell said.
Campbell confirmed PennDOT remains under a federal pause on issuing new non-domiciled CDLs directed by USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy and FMCSA. “No non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits or driver licenses were issued or reissued. PennDOT remains steadfast in following state and federal law and there is no activity or transaction occurring at West Kittanning or elsewhere that violates state or federal law,” Campbell said.
USDOT Secretary Duffy’s office declined to comment. A representative for Governor Shapiro said PennDOT’s statements speak for the governor.
Broader Context
The Shapiro administration has been at odds with DHS after multiple Pennsylvania-issued licenses were found during arrests of illegal immigrant non-domiciled truckers around the country. An illegal immigrant with a Northeast Philadelphia address was arrested during a roadside immigration operation in Oklahoma, sparking a dispute between the Trump administration and Governor Shapiro over responsibility. Harrisburg officials previously said that then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem needed to better maintain her database of lawfully present residents.
Secretary Duffy has highlighted the issue of illegal immigrants holding non-domiciled CDLs following an incident last year in which an Indian national allegedly caused a fatal crash on Florida’s Turnpike near Port St. Lucie.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Reporting by Fox News Digital, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and KDKA.
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