Chaos erupted at Denver International Airport on Monday when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas, a 27-year-old au pair from Ecuador, as she attempted to board a flight. Rojas was taken into custody for overstaying her visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Rojas had entered the United States on October 20, 2024, with a visa valid until January 4, 2025. She was apprehended by plainclothes federal agents on the jetway of a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Oakland, California, shortly after attending an ultimate frisbee event in Colorado.
The detainment triggered a vocal response from bystanders, captured in a viral video. As agents approached Rojas, who mentioned seeking a lawyer, onlookers confronted the federal officers. Shouts of profanity directed at the agents and ICE were heard, with one bystander admonishing Rojas to "say nothing."
One federal agent warned the woman filming the incident that she was interfering with a federal warrant and could be charged under 18 U.S.C. 111, which prohibits interfering with federal officers. Despite the warning, the woman continued to protest as agents led Rojas away.
As Rojas was escorted from the jetway and onto the tarmac, more people began banging on glass windows and shouting in protest. The exchange escalated, with one person stating, "I don't give a f*** if you're being nice! F*** you! This is f****** evil."
A Southwest Airlines employee intervened, informing passengers engaging with the agents that they would not be permitted to board the flight if they continued their behavior. The ICE agent present stated that the pilot was aware of the situation.
In response to the incident, the Department of Homeland Security encouraged migrants to self-deport, highlighting a program offering $2,600 and a free flight for individuals to return to their home countries and reapply for legal entry. The agency stated that failure to do so could result in arrest and deportation without the possibility of return.
Southwest Airlines issued a statement indicating compliance with applicable laws and guidance to employees regarding interactions with law enforcement. The airline stated it could not comment on specific law enforcement activities and confirmed that the individual who filmed the video ultimately reached their destination on a later flight.
A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to support Rojas, who, according to the fundraiser, has been residing legally in the U.S. since 2023 on a J-1 visa for her au pair work. The page also noted a pending immigration application that could grant her status.
