Guatemalan national detained without inspection, challenges mandatory detention
Jun 6, 2026·Location: Philipsburg, PA
Country of origin: Guatemala
A Guatemalan citizen was arrested and detained on June 6, 2026, at Moshannon Valley Processing Center after entering the United States without inspection around 2012. ICE agents and local police determined he was unlawfully present and detained him under what they claimed was mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). The court ruled that he, as a noncitizen already present in the country rather than an applicant for admission, is subject to discretionary detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and granted his petition for a bond hearing before a neutral immigration judge within 10 days.
Sources
More incidents in Pennsylvania
- Disabled asylum seeker says Pennsylvania jail denied him hearing aids and caneOct 2026 · Pottsville, PA
- Judge orders bond hearing for Liberian refugee held 19 months in PA prisonSep 29, 2026 · Lewisburg, PA
- Philadelphia man protected from Guinea persecution detained, ICE now seeks to deport him to GhanaSep 29, 2026 · Philadelphia, PA
- Pastor deported to Haiti after traffic stop despite pending green card bidSep 24, 2026 · York, PA
- ICE detains dozens of construction workers near Geisinger hospital expansion siteSep 19, 2026 · Danville, PA
- Detained immigrant held in Pennsylvania ICE facility loses bid to block transferSep 10, 2026 · Philipsburg, PA