A Mexican national accused of attempting to run over federal immigration agents in Colorado remains at large after six prior deportations and charges of child abuse and domestic violence. Jose Mendez-Chavez, 31, was the driver of a vehicle used to attack U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an operation in Colorado Springs. He remains on the loose, while his passenger Francisco Zapata-Pacheco was arrested. ICE criticized the Colorado Rapid Response Network (CRRN) for supporting the alleged abuser.
The agency also noted the 830% increase in assaults against its officers due to misinformation spread by activist groups. Mendez-Chavez has a history of illegal re-entries, including a 2020 conviction in Texas for reckless endangerment and a 2020 arrest in Colorado for child abuse. His domestic violence conviction in Ohio in 2013 resulted in an 180-day jail sentence.
ICE stated that the attacker, Mendez-Chavez, is not an ‘innocent victim’ but rather an abuser who has played the system and is now wanted for assault on a federal officer. The agency has reached out to the CRRN and emphasized that Mendez-Chavez knows he is not supposed to be in the United States after multiple removals. The incident highlights the challenges law enforcement faces as activist groups continue to undermine immigration enforcement efforts.