U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Denver reported a failed attempt to arrest Jose Reyes Leon-Deras, a Salvadoran convicted of child rape in Italy, blaming interference from the Colorado Rapid Response Network (CRRN).
The incident occurred Tuesday near Longs Peak Avenue and Martin Street in Longmont, where CRRN activists alerted Leon-Deras, enabling his escape.
“Groups like this interfere with ICE’s ability to keep communities safe,” ICE stated, urging for tips to help apprehend the suspect via their hotline on 1-866-347-2423.
CRRN, launched in 2020 to resist ICE raids, confirmed their involvement in a June 20 update, noting volunteers assisted “targeted” individuals, with no detentions made.
Legal experts suggest CRRN’s actions may violate 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii), which penalizes harboring undocumented individuals (up to five years in prison), or 18 U.S.C. § 1505 for obstructing justice.
A 2024 ICE report noted a 15% rise in escaped targets in sanctuary-like Colorado due to limited local cooperation.
No charges are filed yet, but legal analysts say this rare interference (73% of ICE arrests succeed without it, per a 2020 study) could prompt prosecution, testing sanctuary policy limits.
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