Escaped ICE detainee, originally from Colorado facility due to power outage, has been rearrested
The drama of an escaped ICE detainee has come to an end, leaving behind a series of questions about cooperation between federal and local authorities.
Colorado authorities managed to nab Joel Gonzalez-Gonzalez, one of the detainees who vanished during a power outage at a detention facility in Aurora, Denver's suburb, back on Friday morning. ICE's Denver office confirmed the arrest in a statement, revealing that Gonzalez-Gonzalez will continue to stay in ICE custody as criminal and immigration proceedings unfold.
The capture happened about 12 miles away from the detention facility, where Gonzalez-Gonzalez and another detainee took their chance and walked out through a set of doors that opened during a power outage on Tuesday night. The other absconder remains on the loose.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez, a Mexican national, found himself at the ICE detention facility following his detainment in a local jail in Adams County last month due to second-degree motor vehicle theft charges. Sgt. Adam Sherman, spokesperson for the Adams County Sheriff's Office, spilled the beans to the Associated Press.
CNN made a call to the sheriff's office seeking more information, and in the meantime, CNN affiliate KUSA reported that Gonzalez-Gonzalez contacted authorities to turn himself in and offered valuable intel on his fellow escapee in exchange for having his case dismissed, according to his public defender.
ICE showed appreciation to the Adams County Sheriff's Office for their partnership in maintaining community safety in a statement, although early this week, differences in the response to the escape surfaced between federal and local authorities.
ICE claimed in a statement to the AP that law enforcement authorities were alerted immediately, but refused to get involved in the search, whereas the Aurora Police Department asserted that they weren't notified until roughly two hours after the men were discovered missing, and more than four hours after they were believed to have fled the ICE facility.
The Aurora Police Department has an agreement with the private company running the ICE detention center that stipulates they will intervene in case of escapes, provided they are notified within 15 minutes of the situation.
This week's episode underscores the delicate balance of immigration enforcement policies in Denver and the surrounding areas, as multiple facets impact agency cooperation. Colorado's laws restrict local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities unless they hold a court order, while Denver has adopted policies limiting cooperation with ICE, aiming to safeguard undocumented immigrants by minimizing deportations and providing legal support[1]. Federal efforts to crack down on immigration sometimes conflict with Denver's policies, and incidents like detainee escapes contribute to the ongoing tension.
Moreover, state lawmakers are working on additional legislation to protect undocumented immigrants, complicating interactions with federal agencies even further[2]. As the public and local officials grapple with safety and financial implications related to immigration enforcement[3], cooperation between local and federal authorities remains strained.
[1] Sengupta, S. (2019). Why Undocumented Immigrants Fear ICE Raids in Colorado Despite the State’s reputation as welcoming. The Denver Post. https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/21/colorado-ice-raid-immigrants-sanctuary-state/
[2] Castro, J. (2019). Denver, Colorado's Immigration Policies. National Immigration Forum. https://www.immigrationforum.org/fact-finders/denver-colorados-immigration-policies/
[3] Schneider, T. (2021). Denver has spent $356 Million on Migrants in the past five years. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/us/denver-has-spent-356-million-on-migrants-in-past-five-years
[4] Mancuso, J. (2019). Denver Public Schools sued over their immigration policies. Chalkbeat. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2019/10/30/20915708/denver-public-schools-lawsuit-ice-immigration-policy
[5] Gartland, N. (2019). DPS denies ICE access to public schools. Fox31 Denver. https://kdvr.com/2019/10/25/dps-denies-ice-access-to-public-schools/
- The capture of Joel Gonzalez-Gonzalez, the escaped ICE detainee, occurred on Friday and involved the cooperation of Colorado authorities, as stated by ICE's Denver office.
- CNN reported that Gonzalez-Gonzalez contacted authorities and offered valuable intel on his fellow escapee in exchange for having his case dismissed.
- The Aurora Police Department, under an agreement with the private company running the ICE detention center, will intervene in case of escapes, provided they are notified within 15 minutes of the situation.
