ICE Denies Claims of Mistaken Detention, Calls Allegations ‘Absurd’

By: Heather Willard | KDVR FOX31

DENVER (KDVR) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is lashing back at statements made by Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, among others, who said that federal agents had mistakenly arrested a father and his two children and subjected the trio to verbal and physical abuse.

The case centers around Fernando Jaramillo-Solano, 45, of Colombia, who was taking his 12- and 15-year-old children to school when they were all detained by ICE on Oct. 27.

Immigrant rights groups, ICE disagree on status

The Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition said that the family has a fully-documented, pending asylum case and has strong ties to the community, built over the last 18 months. ICE says Jaramillo-Solano came into the country without documentation on Dec. 22, 2024, near San Diego.

On Wednesday, ICE responded to a statement from one of Colorado’s two Democratic senators, demanding that ICE release Jaramillo-Solano and his two children.

“Last Friday, an ICE official admitted that they had mistakenly arrested a father and his 12- and 15-year-old children while driving to school,” Bennet said on social media. “Recent testimony from the family indicates they were subjected to verbal and physical abuse and dehumanizing conditions while detained in Durango. Despite the confirmation that they arrested the wrong person; the father and his kids are currently being held in a Texas detention facility.

“I demand that ICE release the family immediately,” Bennet continued. “As long as ICE disregards due process and treats community members with indefensible cruelty, our rights, liberties and safety are at risk.”

“Let’s set the record straight,” ICE said in a statement provided to FOX31. “ICE did not mistakenly arrest anyone.”

The agency said that it had “conducted a targeted enforcement operation” during which agents saw Jaramillo-Solano and determined he “matched the description of the individual targeted for arrest.” After initiating the traffic stop, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents “quickly determined that Jaramillo-Solano was not the intended target but was an illegal alien nonetheless.”

Sen. Michael Bennet’s Office offered the following statement in response to ICE:

“Senator Bennet has been committed to comprehensive immigration reform since he first came to the Senate. In Colorado, we believe in an immigration system that not only upholds the rule of law but also reflects our heritage as a nation of immigrants. President Trump’s immigration policies continue to do the opposite and are cruel and inhumane,” a spokesperson for the senator told FOX31.

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