Peanut the squirrel’s former owner has been detained by ICE, could be deported
NBC News ·
Key points
- Two years after wildlife officials euthanized Peanut, a pet squirrel amid multiple complaints about keeping wild animals at home, the broader story remains in public view due to political volatility surrounding the incident and the people involved.
- Peanut’s death drew criticism from Republicans, including JD Vance, who framed the event as an instance of government overreach by Democrats and used it to rally voters ahead of the 2024 election.
- Daniela Bittner was arrested by immigration officers in mid-October at a small airport near the New York-Pennsylvania border, with DHS stating she overstayed her visa and defied U.S. laws.
- Since her arrest, Bittner has been moved through several immigration lockups and is currently reported to be held in Texas; her husband Mark Longo attributes delays and conditions to an immigration paperwork mix-up and describes the facilities as deplorable.
- Longo claims Peanut was prioritized politically, then dismissed, and he blames the federal process for disrupting their lives, insisting his wife should not be deported and noting the potential shutdown of their animal sanctuary if that happens.
- The case has persisted as a public narrative that blends animal-control actions, local governance, immigration policy, and personal consequences, with no clear resolution in sight.
Summary
Peanut the pet squirrel’s death and the ensuing controversy became a political flashpoint, as Republicans accused state authorities of overreach. Now, one of Peanut’s owners, Daniela Bittner, faces possible deportation after being detained by DHS for overstaying a visa, with her husband alleging a paperwork mix-up and poor detention conditions. The case ties to broader tensions over immigration policy and political rhetoric around government actions against private residents. The situation threatens the couple’s animal sanctuary and underscores how a local animal-control episode has escalated into national attention and future uncertainties.
This summary was written with AI. The full story has every detail.