U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a 27-year-old Ecuadorian woman at Denver International Airport on Monday night, igniting a tense confrontation with fellow travelers who accused the agency of targeting Latina passengers.
Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas, who came to the United States as a live-in au pair, was boarding a Southwest Airlines flight to Oakland after an ultimate frisbee tournament when two men approached her and asked about her visa status. A witness told KDVR that at first, the group believed agents were randomly questioning Latina women. “At the time, we didn’t know they were targeting her specifically, we thought maybe they were just asking Latina women to talk about their visa status,” the witness said.
ICE confirmed that Rojas entered the country on October 20, 2024, on a visa that expired January 4, 2025. “In violation of our nation’s laws, she overstayed her visa,” an agency spokesperson said. “She remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.” Supporters contend she has a pending application to adjust her status.
Video from the scene shows agents telling Rojas they would treat her kindly and with respect. Her traveling companions, including an attorney, urged her to remain silent. The situation escalated as other passengers banged on a window where Rojas was being led to a van. One protester shouted, “I don’t give a (expletive) if you’re being nice. (Expletive) you. This is (expletive) evil.”
Southwest Airlines warned that aggressive behavior could result in denied boarding. A company spokesperson said the airline may refuse service to disruptive customers who pose a safety risk.
Friends and former employers of Rojas launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $100,000 in two days. “People just have been wanting to help from our community and far beyond it,” a supporter said. “We all feel really impotent and powerless to do anything, so having a moment to meaningfully help at least one person—there’s a lot of appetite for that.”
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement at airports, including debates over airport security policies and drone-related safety concerns. ICE emphasized that detention is a choice, urging undocumented immigrants to use the CBP Home App to self-deport, offering $2,600 and a free flight. “If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return,” the agency warned.
Rojas’s case has drawn attention to the administration’s enforcement tactics and the broader debate over immigration policy. Critics argue that detaining individuals with pending applications undermines due process, while officials maintain they are simply enforcing the law.
