A deputy U.S. marshal was mistakenly detained by immigration agents inside the federal building that houses Tucson's immigration court, U.S. Marshals Service officials confirmed on Thursday.

The wrongful detention was a case of mistaken identity and didn't last long, according to the federal law enforcement agency, responding to the Arizona Daily Star's inquiry about the incident.

"A Deputy US Marshal who fit the general description of a subject being sought by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) was briefly detained at a federal building in Tucson after entering the lobby of the building," the U.S. Marshals Service statement said. "The Deputy US Marshal’s identity was quickly confirmed by other law enforcement officers, and he exited the building without incident."

The agency declined to provide more details outside its statement, nor confirm the date of the incident. Multiple sources told the Star the detention took place in late May