Two detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Colorado escaped on March 18, an agency spokesperson confirmed.
Geilond Vido-Romero, 24, and Joel Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 32, escaped from the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, ICE told The Epoch Times.
“Local authorities were notified immediately and declined to assist with the search. ICE also notified additional state and federal law enforcement partners,” the spokesperson said. “The aliens are still at large and the search is ongoing.”
The Epoch Times has contacted the Aurora Police Department for further comment.
Vido-Romero entered the United States on Dec. 20, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas, where Border Patrol agents encountered him and released him on his own recognizance, the spokesperson said. On Feb. 18, an immigration judge ordered Vido-Romero in absentia removed to Venezuela.
ICE encountered him on Feb. 26 at the Douglas County Jail in Castle Rock, Colorado, after he was arrested on local charges and issued an immigration detainer the same day. Vido-Romero was arrested by ICE on Feb. 27 and held at their detention facility pending his removal, the spokesperson said.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez entered the United States on Feb. 11, 2013, at the El Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in Texas and violated the conditions of his admission, the spokesperson said.
ICE encountered him in January at the Adams County Jail in Brighton, Colorado, where he was being held on local charges, and issued an immigration detainer the same day.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez was arrested by ICE on Feb. 12 and issued a notice to appear in front of an immigration judge, according to the spokesperson. He was being held at the Denver Contract Detention Facility pending immigration proceedings.
Staff did not realize they were missing until a head count was conducted at about 12:30 a.m. the following day, and only learned of their escape at around 2:30 a.m., police said.
“We received late notification about the incident and upon response learned the event occurred several hours prior,” the statement read. “The Aurora Police Department is available to assist our federal partners with active public safety emergencies. As a municipal law enforcement agency, we do not enforce federal immigration law and cannot participate in large-scale searches or follow-ups.”
“This was a cold event from the time we were notified about it,” Moylan said in a statement. “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.”
