In an unusual case of mistaken identity, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents briefly detained a deputy U.S. Marshal at a Tucson immigration courthouse after mistaking him for someone they were actively seeking.
The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed the incident, stating the marshal was detained because he “fit the general description” of a target wanted by ICE. The encounter happened at the entrance to the federal building and was resolved quickly after other law enforcement officials verified the marshal’s identity.
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“The Deputy U.S. Marshal’s identity was quickly confirmed by other law enforcement officers, and he exited the building without incident,” the Marshals Service said in a statement to the Arizona Daily Star.
The precise timing of the incident was not disclosed officially, but sources indicated it took place in late May. No further details were provided about the individual ICE agents were originally trying to locate.
Deputy U.S. Marshals are typically responsible for maintaining security and protecting staff at federal courthouses—making the incident particularly ironic.
This case comes amid growing tension over aggressive ICE enforcement practices under the Trump administration, which has escalated deportation efforts in recent weeks. ICE agents have been making arrests at courthouses nationwide—from Virginia to Washington state—prompting criticism from civil rights advocates and legal groups.
A recent NBC News report revealed that ICE is under mounting pressure from the White House to significantly ramp up arrest numbers. The agency has called for the assistance of more than 5,000 federal agents and 21,000 National Guard troops as part of a sweeping plan dubbed “Operation at Large.” The plan includes personnel from the FBI, DEA, Customs and Border Protection, and even the IRS.
According to reports, this escalation followed a tense meeting last month where White House advisor Stephen Miller reportedly scolded ICE leadership over lagging arrest statistics and threatened to remove field officers falling behind targets.
While the U.S. Marshal in Tucson was quickly released, the incident underscores growing concerns about overreach, mistaken identity, and the broader implications of intensified immigration enforcement.
