ICE Detains Uzbek Migrants at Pennsylvania License Center

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained 13 individuals, including several citizens of Uzbekistan, during an operation in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, on 3 April 2026.

The incident occurred at a PennDOT driver license center in the town of Kittanning. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), federal agents arrived at the scene following reports from local residents regarding an "abnormally large number of individuals" gathered at the facility.

DHS spokesperson Jason Koontz confirmed that the detainees included nationals from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan who were allegedly in the United States without legal authorization. Local witnesses reported seeing a significant number of tractor-trailer trucks at the center, with many individuals appearing to be at the facility to process commercial driver’s license (CDL) documents or medical form updates.

The operation resulted in a chaotic scene as several individuals attempted to flee on foot through residential neighborhoods and nearby wooded areas. Authorities noted that one individual resisted arrest and assaulted a law enforcement officer during the pursuit.

In a statement, PennDOT officials clarified that the facility was processing medical form updates for holders of non-domiciled commercial learner's permits or driver's licenses—documents available to legal residents who are not citizens. They emphasized that the department uses databases to verify immigration status and was not coordinating with federal agents in a "sting" capacity.

The 13 individuals were taken into custody and transported to the ICE office in Pittsburgh for processing. U.S. authorities have stated that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gathering and the status of those involved remains ongoing.