ICE detains dozens of construction workers near Geisinger hospital expansion site
Sep 19, 2026·Location: Danville, PA

On August 19, 2025, ICE agents stopped two vans carrying construction workers on Interstate 99 and Route 220 near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, as they traveled to a job building the Mount Nittany Medical Center patient tower. ICE confirmed 24 arrests in what it called a 'targeted enforcement operation,' though immigrant rights groups said as many as 26 men — nationals of Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras — were taken into custody. A foreman driving some workers from their motel said he was pulled over by two unmarked vehicles, and witnesses said agents confiscated phones, questioned workers about their origins and work permits, and restrained them before detention, with some reportedly holding valid work permits and identification. The men were transferred to Pike County Correctional Facility, Clinton County Correctional Facility, and Moshannon Valley Processing Center. A state representative and local advocacy groups said they struggled for a week to obtain basic information about the detainees and raised due process concerns, including allegations some were coerced into signing self-deportation orders. Community organizers described the men as 'partners, sons, brothers and fathers,' saying the arrests disrupted households in the community.
Sources
- Danville ICE Raid: 49 Workers Detained Near Geisinger
visaverge.com·Sep 8, 2026·archived copy
- ICE detains almost 50 immigrant workers in two operations across Central Pennsylvania, according to advocates.
medianewssource.com·Sep 8, 2026·archived copy
- ICE arrested nearly 50 immigrant workers in two central Pennsylvania operations, advocates say
- ICE raid targets Danville area workers
- Nearly 50 immigrant workers detained during ICE raids at central Pa. construction site
audacy.com·Sep 9, 2026
- pennlive.com
- ICE Raids at Geisinger Construction Site Lead to Over 40 Arrests - Common Good News
commongoodnews.org·Sep 9, 2026
- Immigrant advocates say ICE arrested dozens at Geisinger Medical Center construction site in Danville
WVIA·Sep 9, 2026
- penncapital-star.com
- newsfromthestates.com
- What happened at Geisinger? Arrests near Danville hospital show difficulty tracking ICE activity.
- What happened at Geisinger? Arrests near Danville hospital show difficulty tracking ICE activity - Mon Valley Independent
monvalleyindependent.com·Sep 19, 2026
- ICE enforcement around healthcare facilities in Pa. leads to fears about immigrants who need care
- ICE detainment of 24 sparks outrage in Centre County
northcentralpa.com·Aug 22, 2025
- ICE Confirms 24 Arrested in Centre County
statecollege.com·Aug 26, 2025
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