U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported that two detainees escaped from the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. According to ICE, local authorities were notified immediately after the escape but declined to assist in the search for the individuals, who remain at large. ICE also reached out to additional state and federal law enforcement partners for support, and the search is ongoing.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has stated it is not assisting ICE because it was not contacted by the agency. Meanwhile, the Aurora Police Department noted it didn’t receive a report about the escaped detainees until around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday—two hours after their absence was confirmed and five hours after a power outage at the facility, which may have contributed to the escape. Other local agencies, like the Adams County and Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Offices, have also indicated they were not asked to help.
This situation reflects a broader tension in Colorado, where state policies often limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement on matters like administrative holds or searches related to immigration status. The lack of assistance from local authorities has drawn attention as ICE continues its efforts to locate the escaped individuals.