Photo credit: globalnews.ca
Two Detainees Escape from Colorado Detention Center
In a significant security breach, two detainees have reportedly escaped from a detention facility in Colorado amid a power outage earlier this week. This incident raises questions regarding the protocols in place for managing detainee security during emergencies.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that 24-year-old Geilond Vido-Romero and 32-year-old Joel Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez managed to flee from the Denver Contract Detention Facility located in Aurora on the night of March 18. Preliminary investigations suggest that the detainees took advantage of the situation when the power went out, allowing them to access a side door that led outside.
According to a report from the Aurora Police Department (APD), the power outage began at approximately 9:30 p.m., coinciding with their escape. The back doors of the facility opened directly to a nearby soccer field, offering the detainees a quick escape route.
Upon conducting an “emergency count” around 10:30 p.m., staff discovered that Vido-Romero and Gonzalez-Gonzalez were missing. ICE indicated that local authorities were informed immediately; however, they chose not to engage in the search efforts. An ICE spokesperson stated that they sought assistance from “additional state and federal law enforcement partners.”
Significantly, a call for service report revealed that the APD was not alerted about the escape until 2:32 a.m., which was several hours after the escape occurred. This delay potentially provided the men with a substantial lead, estimated at up to five hours following the outage.
“We received late notification about the incident and upon response learned that the event occurred several hours prior,” stated the APD, highlighting the lack of timely communication from ICE regarding the escape.
Details of the Escapees
Both escapees were last seen wearing orange long-sleeve shirts, beige pants, and black Crocs, according to police reports. Both men are in the U.S. illegally, with Vido-Romero having entered through Texas in December 2023. After being released on recognizance by U.S. Border Patrol, he was later ordered to be removed to Venezuela by an immigration judge in February.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez, on the other hand, has been in the U.S. since February 2013, also via Texas, and faced consequences for violating his admission conditions. ICE encountered him in January 2024 and placed an immigration detainer on him after his local arrest.
As the situation develops, Aurora Police Public Information Officer Joe Moylan mentioned that local law enforcement will assist in capturing the escapees if confirmed to be in the area. He expressed that communication with federal partners is crucial, stating, “This was a cold event from the time we were notified about it.”
In light of these events, various local sheriff’s offices and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, who were also not briefed by ICE regarding the escape, are now on heightened alert.
The ICE facility has become a focal point of protests against immigration enforcement, particularly following the recent detention of well-known activist Jeanette Vizguerra. The growing concerns about the treatment and management of detainees in such facilities continue to resonate with advocacy groups and community members alike.
Source
globalnews.ca