On a quiet morning in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, a routine bike ride to work turned into a dramatic scene as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a Honduran man. The incident left the community reeling and prompted discussions about the impact of immigration enforcement on local families.
Details of the Detention
ICE has confirmed the identity of the man taken into custody as Concepción Castro-Delcid, age 44. According to a statement from the agency, Castro-Delcid was an “illegal alien with a final order of removal” following a 2019 apprehension at the U.S.-Mexico border in Hidalgo, Texas. He and his daughter, whose name has not been disclosed, are set to be deported back to Honduras.
Witnesses reported that the arrest occurred on North Webster Avenue, where Castro-Delcid was intercepted by ICE agents. While the agency insists that he attempted to flee, eyewitness accounts shared on social media describe a different picture, where five masked agents allegedly tackled him without resistance.
The statement from ICE clarifies that “as officers approached and identified themselves as federal law enforcement, Castro-Delcid abruptly fled on foot, weaving through neighborhood yards and attempting to vault a backyard fence, actions that placed both the pursuing officers and nearby residents at unnecessary risk.” They maintained that the arrest followed protocol, using only “hands-on control techniques” without any intermediate weapons or chemical agents.
Community Reaction
The incident quickly drew the attention of local officials and residents. Dunmore Mayor Max Conway received a flood of concerns from the community, prompting him to reach out to ICE. “But this wasn’t some violent criminal. It was a working single father and his young daughter. I don’t feel any safer knowing they were taken from our community,” Conway remarked after speaking with the agents.
State Senator Marty Flynn also expressed his apprehension, stating, “Remaining silent would ignore what I view as a failure of fairness and compassion. When federal actions remove working families who pose no threat to public safety, it does not make our communities stronger or safer. It only creates fear and uncertainty among people who contribute to our neighborhoods and schools every day.”
Local resident Breeda Cronin Holmes shared a personal connection, noting that her daughter was friends with Castro-Delcid’s daughter. “She was part of this community. She was in our parades. She has a Dunmore cheer uniform. This is a girl that had a future here. This is a little girl that’s just like any other little girl,” Holmes told WVIA News.
Reunification and Deportation
ICE has stated that an immigration judge ordered Castro-Delcid’s removal in absentia on February 23, 2023, due to his absence from the proceedings related to his border apprehension. During processing, Castro-Delcid informed officers that he was the primary caregiver for his daughter, who also faced removal.
To handle this sensitive situation, ICE’s Juvenile and Family Management Unit activated protocols to reunite the family. “The family was re-united and will be returned to Honduras expeditiously,” ICE confirmed, coordinating efforts with local authorities and specialists to ensure family unity.
