Bond hearings in Routt County raise questions about ICE collaboration

Voces Unidas has unfortunately learned of two more cases that raise our suspicions that another local government agency could be collaborating with immigration enforcement agencies.

On July 30, in Routt County, two Latinos were detained and taken to jail. 

During the woman’s first court appearance the next day, as she was advised about bond, she was reportedly told that there was an ICE detainer for her and that despite posting bond she may need to be held. 

The man who was arrested with her was told in his court hearing that ICE did not have a detainer on him. 

Official court transcripts show Deputy District Attorney Joseph Bucci telling the judge he had “received information from the federal government that ICE has lodged a detainer against this Defendant.”

And in the man’s case that he had “received information from the federal government that ICE will not be lodging a detainer against this Defendant.”

Voces Unidas first learned about these two cases from a witness who claimed that the DA’s office in Routt County was proactively calling ICE and that the topic was discussed in a court hearing.

The Routt County district attorney's office is part of the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office which covers Routt, Grand and Moffat counties.

Our review of the transcripts raise serious questions about why the prosecutor is communicating with ICE about immigration retainers and who initiated the communication or collaboration between a local government and a federal agency about immigration enforcement not related to a federal crime.

Is the DA’s office reaching out to ICE to ask or share the legal status of any defendant that has a Latino name? Is ICE just calling the DA to let them know they won’t be putting an ICE hold on an inmate? 

In both cases, the defendants were released from jail later that day and neither were detained by ICE.

Voces Unidas has been in contact with the woman. She has said she is scared, and confused about the entire situation. 

Our interest as Voces Unidas is not on the charges that led them to a court hearing but rather whether state law that prevents collaboration between the local government and ICE is being followed in Routt County.

We call on Colorado’s Attorney General to investigate and ensure all agencies are following state laws.