Viral video that appears to show Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents pulling two men from a vehicle in Chester County sparked a protest and responses from local officials.

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A person who posted the clip to social media said the incident occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, outside the Foodery on Bridge Street in Phoenixville. The video shows federal agents opening up a vehicle and pulling two men from inside as witnesses yell at them.

“Dirt bags,” one woman screams at the agents. “Get a real job!”

A man is then repeatedly heard yelling “back up” to the witnesses as the camera moves away from the vehicle. The camera then shows the ICE agents surrounding two men on the ground as a woman once again calls the federal officers “dirt bags” and tells them to show their faces.

Aiden Donovan, one of the witnesses, told NBC10 he thought the agents came from the district court building from across the street.

“It was a lot,” Donovan said. “I mean they were trying to open the door, knowing that didn’t work, they brought the batons out and just smashed the window in and ripped the glass out, pulled them out.”

Another video obtained by NBC10 shows the agents taking the two men into custody.

“We tried to tell them to leave,” Donovan said. “We tried to say, ‘This is private property. You can’t be here. Like especially you’re not going to be even coming into the store. You have no reason to be here.’ We called the cops. The cops said, ‘They are fully allowed to do what they want. They’re federal agents.’”

In a statement, Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler explained why local law enforcement couldn’t intervene.

“Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and local police departments, including Phoenixville’s, are not required to enforce federal immigration laws unless they have a formal agreement to do so,” Urscheler wrote. “The Phoenixville Borough Police Department has never had such an agreement.”

NBC10 sent follow-up questions to the mayor’s office. We have not yet received a response.

Marian Moskowitz of the Chester County Board of Commissioners also released a statement on the video.

“We are seeing enforcement efforts that raise serious concerns about due process, proportionality, and humane treatment,” Moskowitz wrote. ”I strongly believe there must be meaningful oversight of ICE’s activities, and I hope Pennsylvania can find a way to ensure accountability and the protection of basic civil rights.”

NBC10 also reached out to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. A spokesperson said they had no comment.

The video led to a protest in Phoenixville on Wednesday.

“This wasn’t the first time that ICE has been to Phoenixville and it wasn’t the first time that they’ve taken people,” one protester said.

Federal officials have not revealed details on what led to the incident or the identities of the men who were taken into custody.