Federal immigration authorities arrested 243 illegal immigrants across the Denver area during a targeted enforcement operation that concluded Sunday, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as reported by Fox News.
The agency confirmed that every individual taken into custody during the operation had either been convicted of or was currently facing charges for crimes beyond illegal entry.
Arrests included suspects wanted for murder, human trafficking, sexual assault, and membership in violent transnational gangs.
First on Fox from @Brooketaylortv : 243 illegal immigrants caught in Denver metro area ICE operation this month, including murder suspect, some with links to Sinaloa cartel, Tren de Aragua @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/0G0DpqpMjU
— Mike Arroyo (@MichaelFOXNews) July 23, 2025
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“This operation highlights our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our communities,” said Robert Guadian, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Denver Field Office Director.
“By partnering with federal agencies, we have successfully apprehended individuals who pose a significant threat to public safety.”
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Among those arrested were:
Rigoberto Carranza-Mendez, 47, convicted of murder and DUI. ICE has since removed him from the country.
Blanca Ochoa Tello, 36, who was found in possession of 20,000 fentanyl pills at the time of her arrest.
Javier Ulises Sanchez-Andazola, 24, convicted of sexual assault against a child and a DUI.
Tomas Arana-Fuentes, 49, with pending charges including sexual assault on a helpless victim and other non-consensual offenses.
ICE officials confirmed that at least 50 of the illegal immigrants apprehended were already subject to removal orders.
Nine individuals arrested were identified as suspected or confirmed members of violent transnational criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa cartel, Los Zetas, and Tren de Aragua.
#FOXEXCLUSIVE: ICE arrests 243 illegal aliens in Denver metro area. 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, nine charged with or… pic.twitter.com/3qTfmqGjvI
— Brooke Taylor (@Brooketaylortv) July 23, 2025
The immigrants came from a range of countries including South American nations, Spain, Romania, China, Jordan, and Algeria.
Many of those arrested had previously been released from local jails in the Denver metro area due to Colorado’s sanctuary laws, which prevent county sheriffs from cooperating with ICE detainer requests.
“We will continue to work diligently to combat crime and uphold the rule of law,” Guadian said.
“Many of the criminal aliens ICE arrested during this operation had been previously released into the community by local jails.”
The arrests in Colorado are part of a broader surge in enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.
ICE reports that across eight western states—Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and California—monthly arrests of criminal illegal immigrants have nearly tripled since January.
Despite growing calls from sanctuary city officials to halt such operations, ICE has moved forward with increased enforcement. Meanwhile, attacks on ICE personnel have risen 830% compared to 2024, according to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.
“I think the sharp increase in the rhetoric, especially from a lot of elected officials… is what’s really increasing these attacks on officers,” Lyons told Face the Nation on Sunday.
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