Timeline - ICE 8/18/2025

ICE agents are confirmed to be active in Chaffee County. Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich states he was not given advance notice or asked for assistance by ICE.

Ark Valley Voice receives unconfirmed reports of ICE activity. Sheriff Andy Rohrich confirms ICE is "in town" but has no information on their operations.

Carolina Suarez Estrada drives Darwin Arriche-Sierra to a court hearing for a recent DUI case in Salida. After they leave the court complex, an unmarked car (ICE agents) follows them, signaling them to pull over. Panicked, Suarez pulls back into the parking lot of the Chaffee County Probation Department and runs inside.

Suarez and Arriche-Sierra hide in an office within the probation department.

Chaffee County Sheriff's deputies respond to a 9-1-1 call from the probation department about a barricade situation.

ICE Agent Benjamin Diedrich and Javier Marcos (Customs and Border Protection) tell deputies they were targeting Arriche-Sierra for immigration violations and planned to arrest Suarez for interfering with the arrest.

Sheriff Andy Rohrich suggests to the ICE agents that they wait outside to "grab" Suarez and Arriche-Sierra when they exit the building. Deputies escort the ICE agents outside.

Deputy Dylan Baker suggests to the ICE agents that they can "snatch them up" as soon as they come out. Baker and Deputy Ruen Campbell turn off their body cameras while waiting in the foyer.

Undersheriff Alex Walker expresses concern about "handing them over" if they walk them out.

Commander Anthony Avila tells Suarez and Arriche-Sierra in Spanish that they must leave and reassures them that "immigration left, they aren't here anymore."

Suarez and Arriche-Sierra exit the room, waiting in the lobby.

Approximately 15 minutes later, ICE agents re-enter the lobby and handcuff Suarez and Arriche-Sierra, walking them out.

A deputy expresses concern about Suarez's 7-year-old son, Luciano.

ICE's Denver field office posts on X about Suarez's arrest, calling her an "illegal alien from Colombia" who "failed to stop her vehicle, drove to a county probation office and attempted to seek sanctuary inside."

Chaffee County Commissioners Gina Lucrezi, Dave Armstrong, and P.T. Wood release a statement acknowledging ICE's presence and encouraging community members to know their constitutional rights.

An ICE spokesperson releases an official statement to Ark Valley Voice, confirming their mission to identify and remove "criminal aliens and others who have violated our nation’s immigration laws." They state that individuals authorized to work are not conferred lawful status and can be detained. They decline to discuss ongoing/future operations.

Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich confirms ICE was present on August 18 and states he was not given advance notice or asked for assistance.

Salida Police Chief Russ Johnson states that Colorado state law prevents local agencies from communicating or working with ICE, which he believes hinders public safety.

Buena Vista Police Chief Dean Morgan affirms that BVPD will abide by Colorado laws and not assist ICE or inquire about immigration status unless for state or local criminal violations.

ICE agents instruct L.C., a family member of Suarez, to bring Luciano to Alamosa. L.C. fears arrest and Laura Hansen, a family friend, volunteers to drive Luciano.

Laura Hansen takes Luciano to the ICE facility in Alamosa but is not allowed to see Suarez. She is told to leave Luciano, which she does after speaking tearfully with Suarez on the phone.

Suarez and Luciano are moved from Alamosa to the South Texas Family Residential Center, a family detention facility in Texas.

Arriche-Sierra is taken to the immigration detention center in Aurora.

U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen demands answers and accountability from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons regarding the recent immigration enforcement operations in Chaffee County. She cites concerns about masked agents, unmarked vehicles, lack of transparency, and impact on families.

Luciano Suarez Estrada, 7, was supposed to start second grade, but he remains in detention in Texas with his mother.

The Colorado Sun reports on the arrests of Carolina Suarez Estrada and Darwin Arriche-Sierra, and the subsequent detention of Luciano. The article includes details from body camera footage and incident reports.

Chaffee County commissioners hold a public meeting where about a dozen people urge them to adopt new policies to protect residents from immigration arrests.

Commissioner P.T. Wood states that commissioners share the "outrage" but have limited power, blaming the "person to blame for this" who "lives in the White House in Washington, D.C."

Sheriff Andy Rohrich reiterates that his deputies followed Colorado law, stating they deny ICE civil detainer requests "almost every day." He explains that once ICE agents claimed Suarez and Arriche-Sierra committed crimes (eluding, obstructing), he could not challenge federal probable cause.

Laura Hansen speaks at the meeting, criticizing the sheriff's actions and highlighting the trauma to Luciano.

Hans Meyer, an immigration lawyer who helped draft relevant state law, states that ICE agents likely violated Colorado law.

The Chaffee Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) hears emotional public comments regarding the ICE actions in Chaffee County, with many focusing on the detention of Carolina Suarez-Estrada, Darwin, and Luciano.

Community members ask the BoCC to adopt laws protecting people from enforcement in county buildings and ensuring county-wide practices align with state law.

Commissioner P.T. Wood reiterates that the BoCC shares the public's outrage but has limited power, placing blame on the federal government.

Commissioner Dave Armstrong acknowledges the suggestions and states the BoCC will review them.

Commissioner Gina Lucrezi requests a copy of the list of recommendations from Chaffee Mutual Aid.

A hearing for Carolina Suarez Estrada is scheduled at the Texas detention center, where a lawyer hired by Laura Hansen and another family friend will represent her.