ICE files detainer on man arrested for 1st degree murder
Alien is former DACA recipient
Updated June 11, 2021: The VOICE Office has been replaced with the Victims Engagement and Services Line.
DENVER — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed an immigration detainer on a Mexican national facing charges of first-degree murder in Arapahoe County, Colorado, Nov. 24.
The defendant, Jorge Alexander Che-Quiab, 25, a former Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, stands accused of multiple felony charges, including murder and sexual assault of a child and is in the country unlawfully.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) initially filed a detainer with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Aug. 25, after he was arrested on a felony warrant stemming from charges of possessing a controlled substance, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and child abuse with reckless bodily injury. The detainer could not be honored due to Colorado’s sanctuary law and Che-Quiab was released back into the community after posting bond, Oct. 12.
Che was arrested Nov. 23 on additional charges stemming from the initial arrest Aug. 25. A second detainer was filed Nov. 24 to bring Che into ICE custody.
“Colorado’s sanctuary policy continues to fail the residents of this great state by ensuring that criminals who don’t belong here are released to the community where they could potentially harm more people,” said John Fabbricatore, field office director, ERO Denver.
Che-Quiab illegally entered the United States on an unknown date. He later applied for benefits under DACA in 2014 and was granted DACA status later that same year. However, his DACA status was revoked when he failed to apply for renewal in 2016.
ICE lodges immigration detainers on individuals like Che who have been arrested on local criminal charges and who are suspected of being removable, so that ICE can take custody of that person when he or she is released from local custody. When law enforcement agencies fail to honor immigration detainers and release serious criminal offenders onto the streets, it undermines ICE’s ability to protect public safety and carry out its mission.
“Rest assured, my team will never give up. We will continue to protect the community by targeting and detaining people accused or convicted of these horrifying crimes, despite the challenges of sanctuary policies,” said Fabbricatore.
Victims of crime committed by individuals with a nexus to immigration are encouraged to contact ICE’s VOICE office if they need assistance. The VOICE office affords victims and their loved ones a single point of contact to obtain information regarding criminal aliens in ICE custody, including the ability to get automated custody status information, releasable case history about the perpetrator, or having an ICE representative explain the immigration enforcement and removal process. The toll-free VOICE Hotline number is 1-855-48-VOICE.
ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement actions consistent with federal law and continues to focus its limited resources, first and foremost, on those who pose the greatest threat to public safety and border security.
The agency’s arrest statistics clearly reflect this. Nationally, approximately 86% of ERO’s administrative arrests during fiscal year 2019 either had criminal convictions or were pending criminal charges.
Updated: