ICE officers take five men into custody Thursday.

Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents identified, detained and took into custody Thursday five men working on a roof at a property in the 800 block of West Southern Avenue in South Williamsport, borough officials and an area resident who watched this raid unfold confirmed.

Two of the individuals attempted to elude agents by entering the property, but they were apprehended.

The witness said he noticed the activity along with a police presence from South Williamsport Police Department and Williamsport Bureau of Police along with South Williamsport Fire Department and began to take photographs.

The fire department assisted with a ladder truck the witness said.

The witness who wanted to remain anonymous said there was a vehicle from a roofing company parked outside of the house. He said the identified agents arrived in SUVs that were unmarked.

He watched and said two of the individuals on the roof pulled boards off the roof and entered the house. Those remaining on the roof were taken into custody.

“Nobody was hurt and it was impressive,” the witness said. He added he was grateful to ICE and the local police and firefighters for their response. The incident lasted close to an hour, he estimated.

Because he is familiar with this type of industry, the witness told the Sun-Gazette that some companies — though not necessarily this one — use potentially undocumented workers who are in the country illegally because they are paid far less than others in this field. The homeowners are not likely aware of companies using undocumented workers, if they were, and are only given a quote for the job.

“Unauthorized workers undermine the American labor market by driving down wages and taking opportunities away from lawful workers,” said Acting ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane. “This enforcement operation included the arrest of an individual who had been removed three times and reentered the country illegally four times. ICE will continue to work diligently to uphold the law and support the American workforce.”