An illegal alien from Venezuela, Jesus Alberto Pereira Castillo, 20, has been arrested in Jefferson County, Colorado, for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old girl in August. The arrest comes as Denver Mayor Mike Johnston faces national scrutiny for his pledge to protect illegal immigrants from President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming deportation program.
Authorities allege that Castillo, who was living in the basement apartment of his employer’s residence, forced himself onto his employer’s 14-year-old daughter on the evening of August 29. Castillo is currently in police custody, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer for his removal.
ICE officials confirmed that Castillo first crossed the U.S. southern border near El Paso, Texas, in September 2023. He was released into the U.S. interior shortly afterward and eventually resettled in the Denver area.
Mayor Johnston has drawn headlines recently for his strong opposition to Trump’s planned deportations, likening potential enforcement actions in Denver to a “Tiananmen Square moment” and vowing to stand against federal immigration officials. “More than us having [the Denver Police Department] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there,” Johnston said.
Trump’s border czar, Thomas Homan, criticized Johnston’s remarks, saying, “Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing. He’s willing to go to jail; I’m willing to put him in jail.”
This case highlights the contentious debate surrounding sanctuary city policies and Trump’s proposed deportation efforts, which aim to prioritize the removal of individuals with criminal records. Castillo’s arrest has reignited concerns about the safety implications of shielding illegal immigrants from federal enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions like Denver.
