This morning, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Deputies assigned to the Regional Metro Unit as Task Force Officers (TFOs) assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with the arrest of 46-year-old Rene Alvaro Cejudo-Monicas at an address in Fountain, Colorado.
Cejudo-Monicas, a non-US citizen and previously deported convicted felon, had since returned to the United States and was using a false New Mexico driver’s license, assuming a false alias.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for his arrest for violating immigration statutes, and a search warrant was obtained for the residence in Fountain for evidence of identity fraud and illegal entry into the United States.
“This dangerous, illegal criminal is the exact reason why I have fought so hard to reverse the restrictive anti-ICE laws in Colorado,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “Because of Colorado’s protective sanctuary laws, criminals- rapists, murderers, drug dealers, and gang cartel members, have flocked to our state, and are now in residing in and committing crimes in our neighborhoods.
“Earlier this year, I authorized my deputies to assist and cooperate with ICE regarding addressing criminality in the Pikes Peak region because it will help safeguard public safety.
“I thank my deputies and our federal partners for ensuring Cejudo-Monicas is off our streets and unable to victimize again. As Sheriff, I remain committed to the efforts to reverse anti-ICE laws in Colorado and ensuring criminals- regardless of their citizenship status- are held accountable.”
Cejudo-Monicas’ criminal history includes:
In 2003, Cejudo-Monicas was convicted of sexual assault of a child and sentenced to one year in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
In 2006, Cejudo-Monicas was convicted of possession of schedule 2 narcotics and sentenced to eight years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
In 2012, Cejudo-Monicas was deported as a Felon by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This Tuesday, Senate Bill 25-047, which would have reversed the current restrictive laws regarding law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with ICE, was killed in the Senate Veteran & Military Affairs Committee in a 3-2 party-line vote.