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ICE agents apprehended 243 illegal immigrants in the Denver area over nine days, concluding on Wednesday. Detainees hail from 17 nations, and some have notable criminal backgrounds.
ICE reported that the enforcement operation, spanning July 12 to July 20, captured illegal immigrants linked to the infamous Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang from Venezuela, as well as individuals connected to Mexican drug cartels and other international criminal organizations.
The operation resulted in the capture of individuals with significant criminal histories, including one wanted for murder, another for human trafficking, five charged with sex offenses (including sexual assault and exploitation of a minor), nine associated with drug crimes, 13 involved in assault cases, eight with theft-related charges (such as burglary, robbery, and vehicle theft), and 17 charged or convicted of driving under the influence offenses.
The immigrants slated for removal originate from nations including Mexico, Venezuela, various Central and South American countries, Jordan, Algeria, Ethiopia, Romania, and China. Among those detained, 50 have existing removal orders and are set for immediate deportation.
Some of the most egregious offenders apprehended by ICE during the operation include:
- Rigoberto Carranza-Mendez, 47, is a citizen of Mexico. He’s been convicted of murder and DUI and has already been removed from the United States.
- Johnondris Daniel Rodriguez, 28, a Venezuelan citizen. He is a suspected member of the TdA gang.
- Nicolas Diaz-Hernandez, 51, is a Mexican citizen. He’s been convicted of criminal impersonation, controlled substance distribution, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He’s also a confirmed member of the Los Zetas cartel.
- Blanca Ochoa Tello, 36, is a Mexican citizen. When officials arrested her, they found approximately 20,000 fentanyl pills in her vehicle.
- Javier Ulises Sanchez-Andazola, 24, a citizen of Mexico. He’s been convicted of sexual assault against a child and DUI in Greeley.
The Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang and Los Zetas are designated by the U.S. government as foreign terrorist organizations.
Robert Guadian, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Operations Director in Denver, commented on the situation: “Many of the criminal aliens were previously released into the Denver area by local jails due to Colorado’s sanctuary policies, which prevent Sheriffs from cooperating with ICE.”
The Denver ICE Enforcement and Removal Office (ERO) spearheaded the operation with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, including ERO Dallas, Homeland Security Investigations Denver, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the DEA, the ATF, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the IRS.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Before his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
