On August 1, 2025, Jose Mendez-Chavez, a 31-year-old Mexican national and self-described liberal activist, was charged with assault on a federal officer after allegedly attempting to ram Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents with his vehicle during a raid in Sterling Ranch, Colorado. The incident occurred at a construction site where ICE was targeting undocumented immigrants. Mendez-Chavez, with prior convictions for child abuse, domestic violence, and six illegal re-entries, fled after the attempt, prompting a manhunt. No agents were injured, but one fired three shots in response. Francisco Zapata-Pacheo, another suspect in the vehicle, was detained and is cooperating with authorities.
ICE condemned the Colorado Rapid Response Network, accusing it of defending Mendez-Chavez and spreading misinformation that incites violence against agents, who have faced an 830% surge in assaults. The agency emphasized Mendez-Chavez’s criminal history, including a 2020 reckless endangerment conviction in Texas. Prosecutors argue his actions endangered lives, seeking a seven-year sentence if convicted. Critics, including immigrant rights groups, claim ICE’s aggressive tactics provoke such incidents, while supporters of the raid praise the focus on removing violent offenders. The case has intensified debates over immigration enforcement, with Trump’s administration pushing for record deportations amid resistance from sanctuary cities like Denver.
Mendez-Chavez remains at large, with ICE urging the public to report sightings. The incident underscores the volatile clash between federal operations and local activism as deportations escalate.
