Lawyers Allege ICE Violating Court Order Against Warrantless Arrests in Colorado

Immigrants' lawyers ask federal judge to intervene again over continued ICE detentions without proper procedures.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 6:55pm

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Lawyers representing immigrants in Colorado are accusing federal immigration agents of continuing to arrest and detain people without following proper procedures, in violation of a federal judge's order. They are asking the judge to intervene again to stop what they describe as ICE's "disregard for the limits of their authority."

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and civil liberties, with lawyers arguing that ICE is overstepping its bounds and unfairly targeting immigrants, even those without criminal records, in Colorado. The judge's previous order aimed to rein in what he saw as unlawful practices, but the lawyers say ICE is still not complying.

The details

The lawyers say ICE agents have continued making warrantless arrests, failing to document flight risk analysis, and detaining immigrants without criminal records, in violation of the judge's November order. They cite recent incidents near Vail and in the Denver area where ICE agents allegedly boxed in cars and arrested people without warrants. The lawyers say ICE has not reimbursed bond money to some plaintiffs as the judge ordered.

  • On November 25, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction restricting how ICE can make arrests in Colorado.
  • From November 25 to December 31, lawyers say ICE filled out at least 58 forms after warrantless arrests, 90% of which did not document flight risk analysis.
  • On January 21, ICE agents allegedly conducted raids near Vail, arresting several people without warrants.

The players

U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson

A federal judge in Denver who issued the November preliminary injunction restricting ICE's arrest practices in Colorado.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

A defendant in the lawsuit, along with the acting ICE director and the director of ICE's Denver field office.

Todd Lyons

The acting director of ICE, a defendant in the lawsuit.

Robert Hagan

The director of ICE's Denver field office, a defendant in the lawsuit.

Caroline Dias Goncalves

A 19-year-old University of Utah student and plaintiff in the lawsuit who was arrested by ICE after a traffic stop.

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What they’re saying

“ICE has continued to thumb their nose both at the law and court orders. It appears to be an agency that has gone rogue, completely off the rails.”

— Tim Macdonald, Legal director, ACLU of Colorado

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to grant the plaintiffs' request for further intervention to stop ICE's alleged violations of the previous court order.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing battle over immigration enforcement practices, with lawyers arguing that ICE is overstepping its authority and unfairly targeting immigrants in Colorado, even those without criminal records, in violation of a federal court order aimed at reining in such tactics.