Just Getting Started: ICE arrests 243 illegal aliens in Denver metro area

DENVER — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 243 illegal aliens in the Denver metro area who are currently charged with or have been convicted of criminal offenses after illegally entering the United States.

The operation ran from July 12 to July 20 and resulted in the arrests of one alien wanted for murder, one wanted for human trafficking, five wanted for or convicted of sex related offenses (including sex assault and sexual exploitation of a minor), nine charged with or convicted of drug related offenses, 13 charged with or convicted of assault, eight charged with or convicted of theft charges (including burglary, robbery and motor vehicle theft) and 17 with charges or convictions related to driving under the influence.

“This operation highlights our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Denver Field Office Director Robert Guadian. “By partnering with federal agencies, we have successfully apprehended individuals who pose a significant threat to public safety. We will continue to work diligently to combat crime and uphold the rule of law. Many of the criminal aliens ICE arrested during this operation had been previously released into the Denver metro area by local county jails — directly into the community — because of Colorado’s sanctuary laws that prevent Sheriffs from cooperating with ICE.”

Fifty of the aliens are subject to removal orders.

Some aliens are suspected or confirmed members of gangs and transnational criminal organizations or drug trafficking organizations. Ongoing vetting and intelligence gathering have identified known or suspected members of the following organizations:

• Los Zetas (1).
• Tren de Aragua (4).
• Sinaloa Cartel (1).
• Other organizations (3).

Officials arrested illegal aliens from the following countries:

• Mexico.
• Venezuela.
• Honduras.
• Nicaragua.
• Colombia.
• El Salvador.
• Spain.
• Chile.
• Peru.
• Ecuador.
• Romania.
• Georgia.
• Ethiopia.
• Kyrgyzstan.
• Algeria.
• China.
• Jordan.

At-a-Glance Criminality

• DUI: 17
• Theft (including burglary, robbery and motor vehicle theft): 8
• Assault (including aggravated assault and domestic violence): 13
• Drug offenses (including distribution of fentanyl): 9
• Sex offenses (including sex assault and sexual exploitation of a minor): 5
• Homicide (including murder and vehicular manslaughter): 2
• Human trafficking: 1

Other crimes include criminal impersonation, carrying a concealed weapon, false reporting, child cruelty, intimidation, hit-and-run, illegal entry and illegal reentry.

Some of the most egregious offenders include the following:

• Rigoberto Carranza-Mendez, 47, 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 citizen of Venezuela. He is a suspected TdA member.
• Nicolas Diaz-Hernandez, 51, a citizen of Mexico. He’s been convicted of criminal impersonation, controlled substance distribution and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He’s also a confirmed Los Zetas member.
• Roberto Arambula, 45, a citizen of Mexico. His criminal history includes a conviction for theft and pending charges of fentanyl distribution in Greeley.
• Tomas Arana-Fuentes, 49, a citizen of Mexico. He has pending charges for sex assault on a helpless victim, non-consensual sexual assault, and sexual assault against a victim of incapable of appraising condition.
• Jacinto Gonzalez-Perez, 25, a citizen of Mexico. He’s been convicted of careless driving resulting in death in El Paso County.
• Blanca Ochoa Tello, 36, a citizen of Mexico. 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 sex assault against a child and DUI in Greeley.

ERO Denver led the operation with significant support from law enforcement partners from the following agencies: 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.