
Denver ICE arrests man previously deported 16 times
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of Denver announced on Sunday that it arrested Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, a citizen of Mexico who has been removed from the United States, or voluntarily returned to Mexico, 16 times since 2002.
Most recently, Cruz-Mendoza was sentenced for โreckless driving resulting in deathโ after killing one man and injuring others in a Colorado car accident in June 2024.
Sentenced to just one year in jail in August 2024, Cruz-Mendoza was already being released from Jefferson Countyโs Detention Center, according to Denver 7. ICE agents made the arrest upon Cruz-Mendozaโs release from jail.
This was just one of a series of arrests of criminal illegal immigrants that ICE Denver reported it made last week.
- March 25: Arrestedย Rafael Cabrera-Barron, who has already been removed from the United States twice. Cabrera-Barron has convictions for sex assault on a child and currently has pending charges for burglary, trespass, child abuse and possession of controlled substance.
- March 25: Arrestedย Juan Nava-Dominguez. Nava-Dominguez has previous convictions for possession of fentanyl and served 8 years in prison.
- March 26: Arrestedย Victor Alonso-Martinez. Alonso-Martinez has convictions for illegal re-entry and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
- March 27: Arrestedย Gabriel Vergara-Cabanas. Vergara-Cabanas has a criminal history that includes charges for kidnapping, menacing, assault, harassment and sexual-related offenses.
- March 28: Removed a โSalvadoran criminal alienโ wanted for the crimes of aggravated homicide, displacement of individuals, unlawful groupings and aggravated robbery in El Salvador.
This comes as Denver politicians and Colorado Democrats have been outspoken in their disagreement with President Donald Trumpโs deportations efforts, as previously reported by The Center Square.
In early March, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding his cityโs sanctuary city immigration policies.
During testimony, Johnston โdefended Denverโs values.โ
โAs we all heard, he referred to Denver not as a โsanctuaryโ but as a โwelcomingโ city, which has opened the floodgates for violent gangs like Tren de Aragua to take over our communities,โ Colorado’s Republican members in the U.S. House said a joint statement in response to Johnstonโs testimony. โThe people of Colorado deserve better… It is time that Colorado Democrats come to the table and repeal sanctuary policies and protect Coloradans.โ