Federal agencies ripped the local media’s framing of a story about a Cuban man who was detained in Littleton, Colo., while walking his dog and has since been deported.
The original story published by CBS News Colorado had the headline “Colorado grandfather detained by ICE while walking his dog.”
The story heavily quoted the family of 67-year-old Baldomero Noa-Castaneda, who came to the U.S. from Cuba in 1980 as part of the Mariel Boatlift.
“We want our story to be heard. We want our grandfather to come home,” Aliyah Marquez, Noa-Castaneda, told the news station.
“He’s been here 47 years. He met my grandmother in 1983,” Marquez said. “He’s a good man. He’s followed the rules,” she added.
“He came here and he built a good life for himself,” Marquez told CBS News Colorado. “He married a good woman and they have children together. He worked his whole life being here. He owns his own home.”
CBS News Colorado added: “However, that didn’t matter the morning of June 8, when ICE agents took Noa-Castaneda into custody while he was walking his dogs outside his Littleton home.”
The article noted that Noa-Castaneda was ordered to be deported after entering the U.S. in a later dismissed case. He also has two dismissed charges from the 1990s for shoplifting and public consumption of alcohol, CBS News Colorado reported.
ICE disputed the article in a post on X, saying Noa-Castaneda has a more extensive record than presented in CBS News Colorado’s story.
“Why do some journalists seem misinformed? In their rush to publish a story they only listen to one side and fail to do basic fact checking,” ICE Denver said. “[Noa-Castaneda], a CRIMINAL alien has a rap sheet including over 2 dozen arrests for theft, assault & battery, damaging property & shoplifting.”
Why do some journalists seem misinformed? In their rush to publish a story they only listen to one side and fail to do basic fact checking. Noa, a CRIMINAL alien has a rap sheet including over 2 dozen arrests for theft, assault & battery, damaging property & shoplifting https://t.co/aq5hJl7LRy
— ICE Denver (@ERODenver) July 1, 2025
“For his crimes he has served at least 4 years in prison. He received an order of removal from an immigration judge Jan. 9, 1990 and was removed to Mexico today,” ICE added.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Noa-Castaneda has been arrested 27 times.
“This serial criminal’s rap sheet includes 27 arrests, ranging from theft to multiple assault charges. In 2007, he was involved in a traffic stop that turned into a narcotics interdiction investigation,” DHS said Wednesday in a post on X. “This criminal illegal alien was ordered removed by a judge in 1990.”
This criminal illegal alien has been ARRESTED 27 TIMES.
Baldomero Noa-Castenada is a criminal illegal alien from Cuba. This serial criminal’s rap sheet includes 27 arrests, ranging from theft to multiple assault charges. In 2007, he was involved in a traffic stop that turned… pic.twitter.com/Ii3F9EmLCP
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 2, 2025
“His decades of terrorizing American citizens are OVER. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers,” the department added. “When will the media stop peddling the sob stories of VIOLENT criminal illegal aliens?”
CBS News Colorado later updated its story with ICE’s comment.
