Two men managed to escape from an immigration detention facility in Colorado recently, and as of Friday, one of them has been captured. The individual, Joel Gonzalez-Gonzalez, was apprehended by an Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The deputy, who noticed his suspicious behavior, encountered Gonzalez-Gonzalez approximately 12 miles from the detention center, according to Sgt. Adam Sherman, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez, who is 32 years old, was identified as one of the two escapees from the Aurora detention facility, a center operated by The GEO Group under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following his identification, he was taken into temporary custody until ICE officials arrived to handle the situation.
The second escapee remains on the run. Preliminary reports suggest that the getaway was facilitated by doors that inadvertently opened during a power outage at the facility. Although ICE promptly requested assistance from local law enforcement to locate the men, there was a delay in notification. Aurora’s police chief, Todd Chamberlain, stated that his department was informed of the escape over four hours after it occurred, significantly delaying their response.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez, originally from Mexico, had a brief stint in the Adams County Jail earlier this year. From February 9 to February 12, he faced local charges, including a second-degree motor vehicle theft charge. Details regarding these criminal proceedings remain limited as court documents have yet to be disclosed. A public defender represents him in the criminal matter; however, they have chosen not to provide comments to the media.
On February 12, following his release from jail, Gonzalez-Gonzalez was detained by ICE for pending immigration proceedings as he had violated the conditions accompanying his U.S. admission, having been in the country since 2013. At this point, it remains unclear if Gonzalez-Gonzalez has secured legal representation in matters concerning his immigration status.
