Immigration attorneys in Denver have filed an amended complaint against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alleging that federal agents continue to make warrantless arrests in Colorado despite a federal court ruling prohibiting such actions. The complaint was submitted on January 24, 2025, and expands on a class-action lawsuit initiated last year, calling for the enforcement of stricter regulations on ICE’s arrest practices.
The amended complaint claims that ICE has disregarded a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson on November 25, 2024. This ruling stipulated that ICE officers could only conduct warrantless arrests if they possess probable cause that the individual is unlawfully present and likely to flee before a warrant can be obtained. The injunction also mandated that agents document these flight-risk assessments and provide a subset of these records to the plaintiffs’ attorneys for review.
Details of Allegations Against ICE
The attorneys, representing the ACLU of Colorado alongside the Meyer Law Office and Olson Grimsley, have detailed multiple incidents where they claim ICE violated the court’s order. One notable example involves an asylum seeker identified as R.J.R.P., who was allegedly arrested on Christmas Eve while driving to work. Additionally, three men en route to a cemetery job in Bennett were reportedly detained, and on January 21, ICE agents stopped two brothers and their cousin near Vail.
The complaint also highlights unresolved financial issues, noting that three plaintiffs have not received reimbursements for bond payments. One of those cited, Caroline Dias Goncalves, spent 15 days in detention in Aurora and had to pay a bond of $2,000. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argue that these incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of conduct by ICE that contradicts the agency’s claims of adhering to careful and individualized arrest protocols, raising significant concerns among residents and advocates.
Data on ICE Arrests in Colorado
Recent statistics provided by the Deportation Data Project reveal a sharp increase in ICE arrests in Colorado. Between January 20 and October 15, 2025, ICE apprehended at least 3,522 individuals, a substantial rise from 843 during the same period in 2024. Furthermore, the proportion of arrested individuals with prior criminal convictions fell from 61% to 37%, illustrating that many of those detained do not have any criminal history. The plaintiffs cite this data as evidence of broader enforcement sweeps that disproportionately affect individuals without prior convictions.
The plaintiffs are seeking permanent, class-wide relief from the court, aiming to enforce tighter documentation and oversight of arrests, as well as the repayment of bond costs. They also request the elimination of monitoring for some individuals. Following the notice of appeal filed by the defendants on January 23, the case remains active in federal court as both parties prepare for further legal motions and briefs.
The outcome of this ongoing litigation could have significant implications for immigration enforcement practices in Colorado and potentially set a precedent for how ICE operates in compliance with judicial oversight. As the situation develops, the court’s decisions will be closely monitored by advocates and legal experts alike.
