AURORA | Four protesters that were arrested in July for blocking an entrance outside of an ICE administrative office in Centennial will have their charges dropped, prosecutors said Thursday.
In a press release, the 18th Judicial District said there was probable cause to arrest the protesters, but charges will not move forward because the protesters’ actions were “not violent, did not subject any law enforcement officers to physical harm or threat of harm, and did not damage property or disrupt traffic.”
Yoselin Corrales, Arnie Carter, Mateo Henry and Terry Burnsed were each charged July 20 with obstructing an entryway, while Corrales and Henry were also charged with obstructing a peace officer.
District Attorney Amy Padden said in the release she believes dismissing the charges is an appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion.
“My office has a responsibility to make charging decisions based on the law, the evidence and
the facts of each individual case,” Padden said. “I believe strongly in the First Amendment and the right of people to peacefully assemble, speak out and protest. Those rights are fundamental to our democracy.”
Padden added that the law cannot criminalize speech, but the First Amendment isn’t protection against prosecution for criminal conduct.
The district attorney’s office said officers had probable cause to arrest the protesters because they ignored several lawful orders to move out of the entryways. The office also credits the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office with ensuring that the situation did not escalate into violence, while attempting to get protestors to stop blocking access to the ICE field office.
Motions to dismiss the charges will be filed Friday and, once dismissed, the cases will be sealed, per Colorado law, the release said.
The protesters were arrested following a July demonstration where a group of about 75 to 100 people gathered outside the field office with testimonials from family members of immigrants held at the GEO detention facility and held a die-in on the sidewalk in front of the building.
The testimonials alleged poor conditions at the GEO facility, including inedible food, a lack of healthcare and no air conditioning. ICE officials have denied these allegations.