Secret Service Arrests Armed Woman Outside White House

Secret Service agents arrested an armed woman outside the White House Thursday night.

 The woman has been identified as 23-year-old April Lenhart of Mount Morris, Michigan, NBC News reports. She was demonstrating along the north fence line of the White House complex.

Secret Service spokesman Robert Hoback said that around 8:28 p.m. ET, just when the U.S. President Barack Obama was about to conclude a televised address to the nation on immigration, the agents saw a gun in a holster on Lenhart's front hip.

She has been charged with the possession of an unregistered firearm and ammunition, and carrying a pistol without a license. Lenhart was immediately taken into custody.

During inquiry, she refused to make any statements to the authorities, Reuters reports.

President Obama, who was inside the White House at the time of the incident, in his speech unveiled sweeping reforms to the U.S. immigration system.

The executive actions include easing of the threat of deportation for as many as 4.7 million undocumented immigrants. The President's move was condemned by Republicans, who vowed to fight the decision.

This is the second such arrest within a span of two days.

R.J. "Renae" Kapheim, 43, was arrested Wednesday near the White House with a rifle. On searching his car, a knife was also found. Kapheim is from Davenport, Iowa. Investigators later revealed that President Obama had called him personally for an appointment. Kapheim pleaded not guilty on Thursday to illegally carrying a firearm.  

The charge of carrying a rifle is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.