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6mo ago

Two Detainees Escape Colorado ICE Facility During Power Outage

The escape of Joel Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Geilond Vido-Romero has raised concerns over detention facility operations and inter-agency coordination.

In this April 15, 2017, file photo, vehicles are parked outside the entrance to the GEO Group's immigrant detention facility in Aurora, Colo. Denver officials have refused to renew more than $10 million in contracts for halfway houses with two of the nation's largest corrections companies partly due to their track record operating immigration detention facilities. City councilors voted Monday night to walk away from the deals with GEO Group and CoreCivic. The city council's decision will have no impact on the facility in Aurora.
Federal agents move in to re-open the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Portland, Ore., on June 28, 2018. (Photo by Alex Milan Tracy/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
The ICE detention facility in Aurora, Colo.

Overview

  • Joel Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Geilond Vido-Romero escaped from the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, on March 18, 2025, during a power outage.
  • The power failure caused the facility's back doors to unlock, allowing the detainees to flee through an exit leading to a soccer field.
  • Local authorities, including the Aurora Police Department, were notified hours after the escape, limiting their ability to respond effectively.
  • The private GEO Group operates the detention facility under contract with ICE, and the incident has highlighted operational vulnerabilities and delayed communication protocols.
  • Both detainees remain at large, with ICE leading the search and local law enforcement offering conditional assistance if the escapees are confirmed to be within their jurisdiction.