U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore Field Officer director Matt Elliston listens during a briefing, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A group of individuals was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a PennDOT driver license center in West Kittanning, Armstrong County, on Friday afternoon, April 3.

According to a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the department under which ICE operates, the13 individuals are originally from “countries including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.”

“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,” the spokesperson said in an email response. “Residents thanked ICE for investigating their concerns and responding to their calls. The incident remains under investigation.”

The spokesperson also stated one of the arrested individuals assaulted a local officer and resisted arrest during the detention process.

The email response requested statements and information from the department be attributed only to a department spokesperson.

The whereabouts of the 13 individuals are unknown.

The East Franklin Police Department did not respond to a request for comment, nor did PennDOT or the Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office.