Incident Overview

Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, a Mexican national, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Sunday morning, shortly after his release from Jefferson County Detention Center in Colorado. His detention comes in the wake of a June 2024 crash on Highway 285, which tragically resulted in one death.

Court Proceedings and Conviction

Cruz-Mendoza faced legal repercussions for his involvement in the crash, pleading guilty to one count of careless driving resulting in death and three counts of careless driving resulting in injury. He was subsequently sentenced to approximately one year in jail.

During the time of the accident, Cruz-Mendoza was in the United States illegally and was subject to prior removal orders. Reports indicate that he had been deported from the country multiple times—specifically, 12 removals since 2002 and four voluntary returns to Mexico.

ICE Detention Details

According to Robert Guadian from the ICE Denver Field Office, Cruz-Mendoza’s detention was crucial. “If we weren’t here, this person would have been released back to the community of Denver,” he stated. Following his arrest on Sunday, Cruz-Mendoza was transported to the ICE Denver Contract Detention Facility, where he will remain until he is removed from the U.S.

Background on ICE Actions

Cruz-Mendoza’s history underscores significant immigration enforcement challenges. His case raises broader questions about illegal immigration and public safety. ICE’s continuous efforts aim to enforce immigration laws and procedures to address such complexities.