Patricia Krentcil, the New Jersey woman known as "Tan Mom," claims federal immigration agents nearly placed her in handcuffs after questioning her citizenship status because of her deeply bronzed complexion. Krentcil recounted the alleged incident during an appearance on the "Light. Tan. Up." podcast with actor Tom Arnold, stating that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stopped her as she left a restaurant with friends.
According to Krentcil, the agents asked if she was an American citizen. She said she answered affirmatively, but believed they were about to detain and transport her due to her appearance. "Because I was so tan, they were about to handcuff me ... and take me away. God knows where," Krentcil alleged. She described the situation as terrifying and stated she felt she could not predict where she would be taken if detained in an agency vehicle.
Krentcil did not provide specific dates or locations for the encounter. Fox News Digital has not independently verified her account of the incident. The tanning enthusiast also made broader accusations against immigration authorities, claiming they are discriminatory regarding color and nationalities.
Krentcil first gained national attention in 2012 after police accused her of bringing her then-five-year-old daughter into a tanning bed at a salon in New Jersey. The child reportedly arrived at school with sunburns, leading to Krentcil's arrest and charges of second-degree child endangerment. An Essex County grand jury declined to indict her in February 2013, and the charges were subsequently dropped. Since then, Krentcil has moved to Florida, where she continues to reside.