ICE detains 18 suspected illegal immigrants on bus in Chambersburg

CHAMBERSBURG, Tuesday, March 29

Eighteen people were detained on suspicion of being in the country illegally after their charter bus was pulled over for speeding in Chambersburg.

Pennsylvania State Police troopers spotted the bus traveling 80 miles an hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone on I-81 in Antrim Township Tuesday morning. Troopers directed the driver to stop the bus in the parking lot of the Chambersburg Denny's.

During the course of the investigation, police discovered that the vehicle's registration was suspended due to an apparent insurance cancellation and the driver did not have a commercial driver's license endorsement to operate the bus.

Further investigation revealed that some of the occupants were possibly illegal immigrants.

Police said about 57 passengers of apparent Asian descent were aboard the bus, few of which could provide identification or converse to the troopers in English.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted and agents detained 18 people for having an apparent illegal status.

The agency issued a brief statement after the incident Tuesday:

"ICE assisted the Pennsylvania State Police this morning in Chambersburg and has detained 18 individuals, who will be processed for removal from the U.S. We have no further statistics to release at this time," said Harold Ort, a spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bus was taken out of service for the alleged Motor Carrier Safety violations and siezed by ICE. The driver has also been charged, according to Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Trooper Tom Pinkerton.

Of the passengers not detained by ICE, Troopers ensured that arrangements were made to transport them to their destination. Another bus arrived and transported them from the Wayne Avenue Denny's parking lot. ICE brought their own bus and transported the 18 who were detained.

Pinkerton said state police troopers did not take anyone into custody at the scene.

The bus was headed north on I-81 when it was pulled over Tuesday morning just before 7 a.m. Pinkerton said the bus was from out-of-state, but he was not sure where it had originated or where it was heading.

State police said no other information was immediately available. The investigation has been turned over to the federal government and is ongoing. Chambersburg Borough Police Department assisted at the scene.

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