HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — As the federal illegal immigration raids continue across the nation and here in northeastern Pennsylvania, there was a strange twist to the story in Hazleton Monday morning.
An undocumented immigrant showed up at Hazleton Police Headquarters.
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A strange twist to the ongoing story of federal illegal immigration crackdown across the nation and in northeastern Pennsylvania.
An undocumented immigrant showed up at the Hazleton City Police Station, and wanted to turn herself in.
The mayor and city police officials say they have never seen anything quite like this before.
The I-Team also confirmed that this comes as ICE agents were in the Hazleton area over the weekend.
"We had one female come to the police station and asked to be deported," said Mayor Jeff Cusat (R), Hazleton.
Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat says this has never happened before.
"She came in through Texas back in June. She was detained given a court date for October. She skipped it. She's not a criminal, not wanted, nothing like that, but she just came in and turned herself in and said I wanted to go back to the D.R. This isn't what I was expecting," Mayor Cusat explained.
D.R., as in the Dominican Republic.
Mayor Cusat says it's unclear on her motivation to turn herself in, but it comes as federal agents have been carrying out raids across the nation.
Images of raids are seen on a daily basis.
"I'm not sure what she's thinking. Is it the new administration? Is it not what it was hyped it up to? I don't know what she was expecting when she got here," questioned Mayor Cusat.
Cusat says Hazleton police will, if requested, assist with the enforcement of federal and state laws.
"We have had several interactions with ICE just like we do with any federal government or state agency. We are in communication. They have inquired about several individuals. This situation, we have contacted them to see how we should go about helping this person. We're going to work to make everybody safe," stated Cusat.
Amilcar Arroyo is publisher of the Spanish language newspaper in Hazleton El Menserjo.
He says he is getting a lot of feedback from the Latino community.
"They are afraid, not moving out in the community like I said before," said Arroyo.
"Do you think it's because they are illegal immigrants or undocumented?," asked Mehalshick.
"Yes definitely, definitely. People are afraid to because they don't have the documents," stated Arroyo.
The I-Team has confirmed that federal immigration agents were on the move in the Hazleton area this past weekend.
