ICE Calls Out Denver Station for Reporting it Detained ‘Man Without a Criminal History’

Denver NBC affiliate KUSA has set the record straight after reporting that ICE had detained a man without a criminal history. It turned out the man had a DUI on his record.

Trump has said ICE will target violent criminals for deportation first, then it will go after those here without authorization.

A correction and my apology re: our report on a man detained for deportation. We searched for a criminal record using his name in the ICE database. We didn’t realize his name was spelled differently in state-level records so we missed his recent DUI. I apologize for our error.

The above correction and my apology replaces a post with the original story, which I have removed because it did not include the information we learned about today.

Kyle Clark, KUSA

Victor Manuel Montanez-Jacquez was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His family said that ICE agents were looking for a different person and had obtained a warrant, when they picked him up.

Relatives said he arrived in the United States during the pandemic and had been in the Denver metro area for about five years. He worked as a landscaper, helping to put his children through school along with helping his parents, who have medical needs. 

According to Colorado judicial records, Montanez-Jacquez pleaded guilty to DUI on January 24, 2025. Court records indicate the federal government, through ICE, and the Colorado state judicial system spelled his last name two different ways which led the station to the incorrect conclusion that he had no criminal record.

According to KUSA, it asked ICE about the arrest. Instead of replying, the agency posted the info on X, with a link to KUSA’s story in a way of calling them out on their reporting.

“ICE did not inform us about the man’s background until 2:42 p.m. Wednesday, when ICE posted on X that the man did, in fact, have a criminal history,” said the station.