Illegal Immigrants Escape; Local Aurora, Colorado Cops Don’t Help ICE Catch Them

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported that local law enforcement in Aurora, Colorado, declined to help in the search for two illegal immigrants who escaped from a detention center due to a power outage.

The escapees, Joel Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Geilond Vido-Romero, took advantage of the situation at the Denver Contract Detention Facility to flee. When ICE officials found the detainees missing during a routine check, they attempted to involve local law enforcement for a broader community search, which was refused.

Despite involving other state and federal agencies, Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Vido-Romero are still at large, with search efforts ongoing but without local police assistance. The Aurora Police Department stated that ICE had not informed them of the escape until several hours later, making the event “cold” by the time of their notification. This delayed communication implies that immediate response and broader search operations were hindered.

The Aurora Police Department clarified their stance, stating that as a municipal agency, they do not enforce federal immigration laws nor engage in large-scale searches related to ICE activities. This separation of responsibilities indicates a policy of limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, which can impact the response to such incidents.

The background of the escapees reveals that Vido-Romero was recently picked up by ICE after local charges in Castle Rock and had crossed the border near Eagle Pass, Texas, end of 2023, planning for his deportation back to Venezuela. Gonzalez-Gonzalez, on the other hand, had been in the U.S. since 2013, entering through El Paso, Texas, and was detained on local charges before his escape during ongoing immigration proceedings. The refusal by local law enforcement to assist in the capture of these individuals highlights the complex interplay between federal and local law enforcement regarding immigration matters.