Two men were taken into federal custody after Pennsylvania State Police discovered active immigration removal warrants during a traffic stop on Interstate 78 in Berks County over the Independence Day weekend.
According to a Pennsylvania State Police public information release, troopers from the Hamburg Patrol Unit were conducting traffic enforcement at approximately 4:54 p.m. on July 3 when an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) alerted officers to a vehicle with an expired registration.
Police said a records check confirmed the vehicle’s registration had expired at the end of February 2026, prompting troopers to initiate a traffic stop along Interstate 78 East in Windsor Township.
The driver, identified only as a 53-year-old man who presented an Ecuadorian passport, told troopers he did not have a driver’s license, according to the release. Troopers also observed that the vehicle’s inspection and emissions stickers had expired in May 2026.
Police said the passenger, a 55-year-old man, presented a Brazilian passport. After conducting records checks through CLEAN/NCIC, troopers determined that both men had FBI identification numbers and were the subjects of removal-status warrants issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Deportation officers responded to the Pennsylvania State Police Hamburg station and took custody of both men to begin the federal removal process, according to the release.
No additional information about the individuals or any traffic citations filed in connection with the stop was included in the report.
