Aurora Authorities Refuse Assistance in Search for Escapees from ICE Detention Facility

Aurora Authorities Refuse Assistance in Search for Escapees from ICE Detention Facility

In a troubling incident, authorities in Aurora, Colorado, appear to have declined to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in locating two illegal immigrants who escaped from the Denver Contract Detention Facility on Tuesday. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal agencies.

Details of the Escape

Illegal immigrants Joel Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez, aged 32, and Geilond Vido-Romero, aged 24, made their escape from the facility at an undisclosed time on Tuesday, following a regular headcount conducted at 2 p.m. that day.

According to information shared with Fox News Digital by the Aurora Police Department, the facility staff became aware of the escape by approximately 12:35 a.m. on Wednesday. Notably, an Aurora police officer responded to an emergency request for assistance regarding the escape at approximately 5:13 a.m. on the same day.

Delayed Reporting of the Incident

Aurora Police Public Information Officer Joe Moylan confirmed that the department did not receive notification about the escaped detainees until around 2:30 a.m. This timeline shows a significant delay, as it came two hours after the men were confirmed missing and five hours after an unexpected power outage occurred at the facility.

Documents indicate that Assistant Facility Director Mohamed Bennani alerted Aurora police that the power at the detention center had been lost around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. The unexpected blackout resulted in the back doors of the facility opening up to a nearby soccer field.

Bennani theorized that this power failure may have facilitated the escape. Following the power outage, a headcount was initiated around midnight, at which point both individuals were determined to be missing.

Current Situation and Ongoing Search

As of late Wednesday, the power remained out at the facility, preventing authorities from reviewing surveillance footage that could provide crucial insights into the escape. Meanwhile, ICE officials reported that when they contacted local law enforcement for assistance in searching for the two escapees, authorities declined to help, despite both men remaining at large as of early Thursday morning.

In a statement, an ICE spokesperson confirmed, “Two detainees escaped March 18 from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Denver Contract Detention Facility, in Aurora, Colorado. Local authorities were notified immediately and declined to assist with the search. ICE also notified additional state and federal law enforcement partners. The aliens are still at large and the search is ongoing.” This lack of collaboration between local and federal forces has sparked further discussions on the responsibilities of law enforcement in such situations.

Community Reactions and Next Steps

Moylan noted that Aurora police would provide support in apprehending the escapees should they be confirmed to be within the city limits. He stated, “This was a cold event from the time we were notified about it. We are working with our federal partners to determine if the escapees have any connection to the city of Aurora. When the time comes that warrants are active and information is confirmed that these men are in Aurora, we will assist with the apprehension.”

However, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office indicated to FOX 31 Denver that they had not received any request for assistance from ICE. Similarly, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office declined to confirm involvement in the situation.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation also informed FOX 31 that they were not assisting with the search for the escapees and had not been contacted by federal agents regarding the matter.

The Broader Implications of the Incident

The refusal of local agencies to aid in the search raises important questions about the intersection of state and federal responsibilities in immigration enforcement. As debates around immigration policy continue, incidents like this illuminate the potential challenges that arise when local jurisdictions choose not to cooperate with federal enforcement efforts.

Authorities and stakeholders will need to assess not only the legal implications but also the community safety and security concerns that arise from such a disconnect. The ongoing search for Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Vido-Romero remains a priority, with ICE taking steps to collaborate with state and federal law enforcement partners.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.