Denver, CO
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office issues 'fact check' about ICE Denver social media post
DENVER — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) took to social media on Thursday to “fact check” a recent post by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Denver.
On Wednesday afternoon, ICE Denver posted to X, asking the community for help in locating Jose Lopez-Hidalgo, 32. The agency said Lopez-Hidalgo was “released from Jefferson County without being turned over to ICE.”
Court records show Lopez-Hidalgo was arrested on Saturday for driving under the influence (misdemeanor), driving under the influence per se (misdemeanor) and careless driving resulting in injury (traffic offense misdemeanor). He posted a $5,000 personal recognizance (PR) bond on Monday.
ICE is asking for the community’s assistance in locating Jose Lopez-Hidalgo, 32, an alien from Honduras who was released from Jefferson County without being turned over to ICE. Do not approach if seen, instead report all info to ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All tips remain confidential pic.twitter.com/jOttsb6Std
— ICE Denver (@ERODenver) June 18, 2025
Nearly 24 hours later, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded with a post of its own.
In the “fact check,” the sheriff’s office said it is not allowed to “directly turn over an inmate to any law enforcement agency without a judicially authorized warrant,” citing Colorado law.
Local law enforcement agencies are limited in their interactions with ICE under state law. In January, Denver7 Investigates spoke with several sheriff’s offices in the Denver metro area, including Jefferson County, to ask about their policies regarding detainers. A detainer is a request for the sheriff’s office to either notify ICE of the inmate’s release or hold the inmate for up to an additional 48 hours.
The Denver Sheriff’s Department (DSD) notifies ICE ahead of an inmate’s release when it receives a request from ICE. The department said it notifies ICE via fax, which is ICE’s requirement, according to a DSD spokesperson.
In both Jefferson and Douglas counties, the sheriff’s offices notify ICE anytime a foreign-born inmate is booked into the jail. Then, upon ICE’s request, the sheriff’s offices will notify the federal agency when an inmate is beginning the release process.
In all of these cases, it is up to ICE to show up and take the individual into federal custody after they have been released from a local agency’s custody.
- Read the full report from our Denver7 Investigates team below
Denver7 Investigates
Denver7 Investigates: How CO law enforcement agencies respond to ICE detainers
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in its post that it received an order to release Lopez-Hidalgo at 11:52 a.m. According to the sheriff’s office, an inmate must be released within six hours of when they are eligible, per Colorado law.
JCSO said it spoke with an ICE representative by phone at noon and informed them of Lopez-Hidalgo’s release. The sheriff’s office wrote in its post, “The ICE representative told us ICE would not be picking up Mr. Lopez-Hidalgo.”
Lopez-Hidalgo was released from the Jefferson County Jail at 2:34 p.m.
“At no point did ICE respond to the jail to pick up Mr. Lopez-Hidalgo,” the sheriff’s office said.
JCSO FACT CHECK:
Yesterday, ICE Denver (@ERODenver) posted that an inmate was “released from Jefferson County without being turned over to ICE.” Let’s be clear: we are not legally allowed to directly turn over an inmate to any law enforcement agency without a judicially… pic.twitter.com/yqPINoLU0J
— Jeffco Sheriff (@jeffcosheriffco) June 19, 2025
The sheriff’s office said it reached out to the ICE Denver office about the “misleading post.”
“They made their position unmistakable: if we do not provide ICE extra time to coordinate inmate pickups from our facility, in violation of Colorado law, deceptive posts like yesterday’s will become the norm,” JCSO wrote.
The sheriff’s office concluded its post by saying it “respects and follows Colorado law. We will continue to follow the law and stand by the truth.”
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The NFL handed the Denver Broncos a gauntlet to open the 2026 regular season. With road games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers, plus home stands against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks, it’s the toughest first six games I’ve seen the Broncos draw since I began covering the team in 2012.
The first six weeks are so tough that FOX Sports radio host Colin Cowherd couldn’t help but draw the conclusion that the NFL is “punishing” the Broncos. But let’s set that particular conspiracy theory aside for the time being.
What’s important to remember is that the Broncos earned this first-place schedule. How this team achieved last year suggests it is ready to bow up for the challenge that this first six-week stretch presents.
But how has the schedule release impacted the NFL power rankings? When it comes to FOX Sports, the Broncos have jumped one spot to land at No. 1 in its post-schedule release 2026 NFL power rankings.
“Their first six games are just terrible. But assuming they survive that, there is a real soft middle of the schedule that could put them on a real run from Weeks 7 to 15. That should be enough for the class of the AFC, and a team that is motivated by the knowledge they should’ve been in the Super Bowl last year,” Ralph Vacchiano wrote.
The Middle
Vacchiano is right. Even if the Broncos emerge from that first six-week stretch at 3-3 or even 2-4, they’d still be set up for a great opportunity to have all their goals on the table by the time they hit Week 16 when things stiffen up again. If the Broncos emerge at 4-2 or better, watch out, NFL.
From Week 9 through Week 15, the Broncos face the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets on the road, the Las Vegas Raiders twice, and the Miami Dolphins. There is one eyebrow-raiser in Week 12’s Black Friday throwdown on the road vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, which became infinitely more interesting with Aaron Rodgers officially returning for his 22nd NFL season, but the Broncos match up well with them.
The Broncos’ bye also comes during this stretch, in Week 10. The NFL placed Denver’s bye as close to the middle of the 17-game schedule as possible. The Chiefs and Chargers have their respective byes before Week 8.
The Final Gauntlet
In Week 16, the Broncos host the Buffalo Bills on Christmas Day, a rematch of the divisional round of the playoffs from this past January. Then the Broncos go on the road to take on Drake Maye and the New England Patriots, before coming home to face Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers to close the season.
The Broncos probably aren’t going to win 14 games again this season. Campaigns of that magnitude are few and far between in Broncos history. Only the 1998 and 2025 Broncos have ever won that many games in a season.
However, the Broncos probably don’t need 14 wins to repeat as AFC West champions. The AFC West drew the AFC East and the NFC West this season, two divisions that produced five playoff teams last year.
The Broncos have to face them all, but so do the Chargers, Chiefs, and Raiders, which levels the playing field somewhat. The Chargers also have to play the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans (ouch), while the Chiefs have to play the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kansas City also draws the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, who, on paper, don’t seem all that threatening sitting here in May, but both could be a force to be reckoned with in 2026.
The Takeaway
Despite the initial shock of how the schedule rolled out, these FOX Sports power rankings reflect how the Broncos are perceived overall around the NFL. Not every publication will have Denver at No. 1, but this team is viewed as top five across the board.
That’s a far cry from the doldrums the Broncos were in for eight years before Sean Payton arrived. Even though the Broncos have a tough row to hoe this season, it’s a schedule they earned, and that qualification should make them equal to the opportunity against every one of these tier-one opponents on the schedule.
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DENVER (KDVR) — A vehicle collided with a home overnight in Denver, causing serious injuries, according to the Denver Police Department.
Officers responded to a call that came in just before 2 a.m. Tuesday morning about a vehicle that hit a home near West 10th Avenue and North Perry Street in the Villa Park neighborhood, a police spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said they do not know how many people were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. The injuries are considered serious, but the spokesperson did not say if someone in the vehicle or the house was injured.
The vehicle did go airborne before it hit the home, police said, and investigators are looking at speed, alcohol or drugs as factors in the crash.
FOX31’s Kasia Kerridge is at the scene to learn more.
DENVER (KDVR) — After a cool and wet start to the week, more showers and a warming trend will move into Denver’s weather forecast.
Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings for accumulating snowfall leading to difficult travel in the high country will expire at 9 p.m. on Monday.
Weather tonight: Showers, cold
Showers will continue Monday evening, then taper off overnight.
Low temperatures will fall to the 30s, allowing mostly for a chilly rain with a few wet snowflakes trying to mix in.
The cold temperature has triggered a frost advisory from Monday night through Tuesday morning. Remember to protect pipes and plants so frost does not cause damage.
Weather tonight: Cold night ahead
Tuesday will start with patchy areas of morning fog and chilly temperatures. High temperatures will climb to the 50s as clouds continue to build in ahead of afternoon and evening rain showers.
Looking ahead: More showers, warmer weekend
More showers and the chance for thunderstorms are in the forecast for Wednesday. Temperatures will only reach the upper 50s, which is nearly 15 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year.
Thursday will start with sunshine, then clouds will increase ahead of the chance for showers and storms as highs cling to the 60s. Another round of showers and storms moves in Friday, with temperatures again getting capped in the 60s.
There is a slight chance for showers and more afternoon thunderstorms Saturday, followed by sunshine and a high near 80 degrees Sunday.
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