A college student in Philadelphia was arrested for pretending to be a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent and causing a disturbance at a business while recording the incident, officials reported. The student, who attends Temple University, was charged with impersonating an officer after he and two others were suspected of posing as ICE agents at an Insomnia Cookies location in Philadelphia. The student has been arrested in connection with the incident, while the other individuals involved have not been identified. Temple University has placed the arrested student on interim suspension and stated that anyone found responsible for such behavior will face disciplinary action, potentially including expulsion. Impersonating law enforcement officers is considered a crime, and the university has emphasized that this type of conduct and harassment within the Temple community will not be accepted.
The incident occurred as ICE had been conducting arrests following the new executive orders on immigration and refugee admissions signed by President Donald Trump. The student was apprehended by Temple University Police after two men, dressed in shirts labeled “Police” and “ICE,” attempted to enter a university residence hall. The student is believed to have met with these men and left the premises with them in a Jaguar SUV. Subsequently, the group was reported at a nearby Insomnia Cookies location, where they were impersonating ICE agents. The suspects left the area in a light-colored SUV, and the student was taken into custody at 10 p.m. that evening.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with the Central Detectives and Temple University Police Department working together to gather information. Anyone with relevant details is encouraged to contact the Central Detectives at 215-686-3093 or Temple Police at Investigations@temple.edu, or call 215-204-1234. Information can also be provided anonymously to the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-8477.
