Denver Activists’ Actions Lead to Escape of Convicted Child Rapist
Following his arrest, a foreign national from El Salvador claims that activists in Denver aimed to assist him in avoiding capture for a past child rape conviction he received in Italy.
On Friday, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Colorado announced via social media that their agents were attempting to detain Jose Reyes Leon Delas, a criminal who has been previously convicted.
The group known as Colorado’s Rapid Response posted that ICE was active in the area, apparently enabling convicted criminals like Leon Delas to evade law enforcement. “While monitoring Leon, members of this group arrived, alerting him about the law enforcement presence, which allowed him to dodge arrest,” said ICE. “Such groups obstruct our ability to ensure community safety.”
ICE shared social media posts written in both English and Spanish from this activist group, which warned its followers about ICE’s operations in their vicinity.
In a message on their platform, ICE urged the public to report Delas to the relevant federal authorities.
A recent incident highlights the increasing complications in handling immigration issues in Denver, where Mayor Mike Johnston has previously committed to stationing police officers to protect individuals from deportation. However, reports indicate that the city has allocated over $356 million in taxpayer money towards immigration services, while a 2017 ordinance restricts local authorities from collaborating with ICE.
Since President Trump’s administration, protests against ICE and interference during arrests appear to have escalated. For instance, in Portland, Oregon, anti-ICE activists recently launched fireworks at law enforcement, creating quite a spectacle.
Just two weeks prior, a mob of protesters in Los Angeles set a car on fire and threw rocks at police, calling for Trump to deploy the National Guard to the area.
Even Democrats have found themselves in legal trouble; in recent months, several elected officials have faced detention or arrest related to ICE operations or protesting against Homeland Security.
Polling data indicates that a significant majority of voters for the 2026 general election—about 63.5%—support the deportation of undocumented immigrants, with even stronger sentiments (up to 80%) when it comes to deporting those with criminal records.
On Friday, it was reported that 75% of illegal aliens arrested during the Trump administration had prior criminal charges or convictions, according to Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem.
