‘Tan Mom’ Says ICE Mistook Her Deep Tan for Illegal Immigrant

WHO:

Fox News - Patricia Krentcil, known as “Tan Mom,” said ICE agents stopped and questioned her about her U.S. citizenship.

Fox News - Krentcil described the encounter on the “Light. Tan. Up.” podcast alongside actor Tom Arnold.

NY Post - Patricia Krentcil said she was nearly handcuffed while at a restaurant with friends.

Fox News - Krentcil said she was leaving a restaurant with girlfriends when the agents stopped her.

Fox News - Krentcil said agents asked, “Am I an American citizen?” She replied, “Yes.”

Fox News - Krentcil alleged agents were about to handcuff her and take her away because she was “so tan.”

Fox News - Krentcil said, “Once you get in those trucks, you don't know where you're going anymore,” and said she was scared but “held my own” and got out of the situation.

Fox News - Krentcil described the alleged encounter as “terrifying” and accused immigration authorities of being “very racist about color and nationalities and stuff like that.”

Fox News - ICE did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment about the alleged incident.

WHAT:

Fox News - Krentcil alleged ICE agents nearly detained her after questioning her citizenship; Fox News Digital said it had not independently verified her account.

Fox News - Krentcil became nationally notorious in 2012 after authorities accused her of bringing her then-5-year-old daughter into a tanning bed at a New Jersey salon. She was arrested and charged with second-degree child endangerment after her daughter reportedly arrived at school with sunburns.

Fox News - An Essex County grand jury declined to indict Krentcil in February 2013, and the charges were dropped.

NY Post - Krentcil gained notoriety after her arrest over the allegation involving her 5-year-old daughter and a tanning bed.

WHERE:

Fox News - Krentcil said the alleged ICE encounter happened as she left a restaurant; she did not identify the restaurant or its location.

Fox News - The child-endangerment case concerned a tanning salon in New Jersey. Krentcil later moved from New Jersey to Florida.

WHY:

Fox News - Krentcil alleged agents targeted her because of her deeply bronzed complexion.

HOW:

Fox News - Krentcil said the agents questioned her citizenship and were about to handcuff her; she did not specify when or where the encounter occurred.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 07:11 UTC)

Patricia Krentcil, known as “Tan Mom,” says ICE agents questioned her citizenship and nearly detained her as she left a restaurant with friends. She described the alleged encounter on the “Light. Tan. Up.” podcast with actor Tom Arnold, saying agents asked whether she was an American citizen and she answered yes. Krentcil alleged they were about to handcuff her and take her away because of her deeply bronzed complexion. She called the experience terrifying and said she was scared, but held her own and got out of the situation. ICE had not immediately responded to a request for comment, and her account had not been independently verified. Krentcil became widely known in 2012 after being accused of taking her young daughter into a New Jersey tanning salon. A grand jury declined to indict her, and the charges were dropped.