ICE Arrests Philly Prison Social Worker, Detains Him In Louisiana Facility

PHILADELPHIA — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents recently arrested a Philadelphia prison employee.

Vincent Pinder has worked for the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) since March as a social work services manager, according to a PDP spokesperson.

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ICE agents arrested Pinder on June 16. The Bahamian national is detained in the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, according to public records records.

Pinder tried to enter the U.S. by falsely claiming citizenship, and he's been convicted of aggravated assault and weapons offenses, ICE claims. The agency did not say when he was convicted or when he allegedly entered the country under false pretenses.

He was arrested by agents of the Philadelphia field office, which covers Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia.

It's unclear why Pinder is detained so far from Philadelphia. But during President Donald Trump's second term, transferring ICE detainees to different parts of the country — and even overseas — has been prevalent.

The Central Louisiana facility is perhaps best known as the former detention site of Mahmoud Khalil — a permanent resident and a student leader in a pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia University, who has not been accused of a crime.

A PDP spokesperson offered Pinder's employment history with Philadelphia Prisons but declined further comment.

Social work services managers provide counseling and case management for people incarcerated in Philadelphia Prisons, while also referring them to various services, according to city job listings.