A federal immigration raid unfolded at a Honesdale restaurant on Thursday, drawing community attention and concern. In an interview with The River Reporter’s Liam Mayo, who was on the scene, details emerged about the ICE operation and the strong response from local residents.

According to Mayo, plainclothes ICE agents were first spotted around 11:10 a.m. near the Wayne County Courthouse. “They weren’t in full tactical gear at that point — more of a dress-down uniform,” he said. After entering the courthouse briefly, the agents reemerged in tactical gear and proceeded to Elegante’s, a popular pizzeria on Main Street.

At approximately 11:50 a.m., agents entered the restaurant and remained there for several hours. By about 12:45 p.m., they escorted two employees — a man and a woman — out of the building in handcuffs. Agents stayed on site for some time afterward, eventually removing several boxes and a computer, which Mayo said hinted at a broader investigation.

This marks the second ICE operation in Honesdale this spring. A similar raid occurred in March, during which one man was arrested. The recurrence of these events has sparked growing concern — and organization — among local residents.

“This time, the community was ready,” Mayo said. “Between the March raid and now, people had been working to spread awareness and prepare for the possibility it could happen again.” According to Mayo, between 20 and 30 community members stood watch outside the restaurant, filming the operation, questioning agents, and documenting what they saw.

“There’s a sense of horror that this could happen here,” one woman told The River Reporter. “We shouldn’t have to watch, but we do.” She added that such raids shake citizens’ faith in the protections of the rule of law.

Mayo described the atmosphere as tense but peaceful, with residents pressing for transparency from ICE, often receiving little in return. “People were asking to see warrants, asking for badge numbers,” he said. “Agents generally didn’t respond.”

Honesdale Borough Mayor Derek Williams was present for part of the raid and reiterated the importance of accountability. “Transparency is crucial at every level — local, state, and federal,” he said, adding that residents’ presence at the scene reflected their commitment to that principle.

As of this writing, ICE has not released the names or charges related to the individuals detained. In the March incident, the name of the individual arrested was made public over a month later, without formal charges being filed at that time.

No official comment has been issued yet by Elegante’s Pizza or the families of the detained employees.

For ongoing coverage, visit riverreporter.com.