Shameful: Anti-ICE Activists Aid a Wanted Criminal's Escape From ICE and FBI in Denver

What do you call a group of people who aid and abet a wanted criminal to evade arrest? A criminal, we might note, who is not only in our country illegally, but who is wanted in Italy for a sexual assault on a child? One might call these people accessories, which raises the question of why they haven't been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting a felon.

That's precisely what happened in Denver on Friday, when a group called "Colorado Rapid Response" showed up as Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI were attempting to arrest one Jose Reyes Leon-Deras, a Salvadoran national illegally in the United States.

to law enforcements presence which allowed him to escape arrest. Groups like this interfere with ICE’s ability to keep communities safe. If you know his whereabouts, do not approach, if seen, instead report all info to ICE at 1-866-347-2423 pic.twitter.com/fGrTnWc81C
— ICE Denver (@ERODenver) June 21, 2025

This group's interference would appear to run them afoul of 8 U.S. Code § 1324 - "Bringing in and harboring certain aliens." That statute states in part:

(A) Any person who—
(iii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation;
(iv) encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law; or
(v) (I) engages in any conspiracy to commit any of the preceding acts, or
(II) aids or abets the commission of any of the preceding acts,

The punishments for violation of this statute are not inconsiderable, including fines and 5 to 10 years imprisonment.

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So, that raises some questions.

It would sure appear that "Colorado Rapid Response" is helping Leon escape federal custody, "...in reckless disregard of the fact" that he is in the country illegally. It is also a near-certainty that they know something of Leon's background, including that he is apparently wanted in Italy for the rape of a child. Why, then, have not the leaders of this group been arrested and charged under 8 USC 1324?

That's a very good question, and it's one that someone should put to the Attorney General's office. Granted, the mill of justice sometimes grinds very slowly indeed, but this would seem to be a case where some celerity is in order. Interfering with the constitutionally appointed authorities who are attempting to enforce our immigration laws should not - must not - be tolerated.

Colorado used to be a great place. Most of the state still is; the kinds of attitudes that are holding sway in the Denver-Boulder Axis aren't found much in places like Grand County, the eastern plains, the Uncompahgre, and such places; in those areas, it's still not uncommon to see citizens with revolvers on their belts. But the Denver-Boulder Axis is growing, and is sending tendrils out to places like Eagle, Gunnison, and La Plata counties. It's a shame, but whether Colorado is a blue state or not makes no difference where federal immigration law is concerned. One way or another, groups like "Colorado Rapid Response" must be made to understand that.

Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.

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