New Jersey’s infamous “Tan Mom,” Patricia Krentcil, recently shared a startling experience during an episode of the “Light. Tan. Up.” podcast featuring actor Tom Arnold. She claimed that federal immigration agents almost placed her in handcuffs following questions about her U.S. citizenship, which she believes were prompted by her notably tanned skin.
Krentcil recounted how the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents approached her while she was leaving a restaurant with friends. “As we’re walking out, the ICE people stopped me and they asked me, ‘Am I an American citizen?'” Krentcil recalled, expressing her astonishment at the implication.
She went on to say, “Because I was so tan, they were about to handcuff me … and take me away. God knows where.” It’s a pretty dramatic claim, one that has drawn attention given her long history as a public figure due to her extreme tanning practices. The moment left her feeling frightened about the possibility of being detained and taken to an uncertain destination.
“Once you get in those trucks, you don’t know where you’re going anymore,” she noted, describing the encounter as quite anxiety-inducing. Thankfully, she asserted that she managed to extricate herself from the situation.
Krentcil also commented on what she perceives as a bias within immigration authorities, stating, “But they’re very racist about color and nationalities and stuff like that.” The situation, as she described it, was not only frightening but also pointed to deeper issues of prejudice.
Although she didn’t mention specific details about when or where this incident took place, her account hasn’t been verified independently. Krentcil rose to fame back in 2012 when she was accused of putting her then-5-year-old daughter in a tanning bed at a salon, which led to a significant media storm over her tanning habits and parenting choices.
The charges against her were eventually dropped after an Essex County grand jury refused to indict her. Since then, Krentcil has made Florida her home, continuing to enjoy the sun that helped her gain notoriety. ICE has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding her allegations.
