Emotions erupt at Denver airport after ICE detains woman accused of overstaying visa

Emotions erupted at Denver International Airport after ICE detained a 27-year-old woman accused of overstaying her visa while boarding a Southwest Airlines flight. The incident, recorded on video, was shared by a woman in Oakland leading efforts to help Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas, an Ecuadorian au pair. ICE told KDVR that Rojas entered the U.S. on October 20, 2024 on a visa allowing her to stay until January 4, 2025, and said she remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Supporters said she has a pending application to regularize her status. According to a witness, two men approached her about her visa status before ICE agents arrived at the jetway and spoke with her. Southwest said it may deny boarding to customers whose disruptive actions threaten safety. A GoFundMe started by friends and former employers raised more than $100,000 in two days.