Federal agents are on the hunt for a six-time deportee with a lengthy criminal history who allegedly tried to ram federal immigration agents with a vehicle during a bust in Colorado last week.
Jose Mendez-Chavez, 31, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, fled after officers fired three shots at the vehicle and remains at large, according to local outlet FOX21 News.
Mendez-Chavez was previously deported six times and has prior convictions for child abuse and domestic violence. ICE agents were trying to arrest Mendez-Chavez, who is now wanted for assault on a federal officer, and a passenger in his vehicle.
Police allege Mendez-Chavez used a vehicle to try and run over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they were trying to detain people at a construction site on Thursday, July 31. The two suspects fled and later abandoned the car, an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
“Mendez was not an ‘innocent victim’ he is an abuser who plays the system and is now wanted for assault on a federal officer,” according to a statement from ICE, per Fox News. “He knows he’s not supposed to be here, since we’ve removed him six times previously.”
Authorities nabbed the passenger in the vehicle, identified as Francisco Zapata-Pacheco, a few hours after the alleged attack. He is being held for deportation proceedings, KMGH-TV News reported.
(((WANTED))) JOSE MENDEZ-CHAVEZ Is Wanted By ICE Out Of Denver, Co. For Trying To Run Over ICE Agents…
If Seen Call The Tip Line 866-347-2423https://t.co/PsExfmsUgO pic.twitter.com/W7MQi4hRMb— 🚔🇺🇸LIVEPDMASS (@LivePdMass) August 2, 2025
ICE agents were conducting an operation in El Paso County in the Black Forest area to the northeast of Colorado Springs.
Besides six prior removals, Mendez-Chavez has a criminal history dating back to 2013.
ICE confirmed to FOX21 News the following criminal history:
- June 2013: Arrested in Willard, Ohio, for domestic violence.
- July 2013: Mendez-Chavez was convicted of domestic violence and sentenced to 180 days in jail with 170 days suspended.
- December 2013: The Southern District of Texas convicted Chavez-Mendez of illegal entry and sentenced him to 15 days of imprisonment.
- January 2014: The Western District of Texas convicted Chavez-Mendez of illegal entry and sentenced him to 60 days of imprisonment.
- Late-January 2014: The Western District of Texas convicted Mendez for illegal re-entry into the United States and sentenced him to 8 months imprisonment with credit for time served.
- January 2020: Colorado Springs Police Department arrests Chavez-Mendez for child abuse.
- August 2020: The El Paso County Court convicted Chavez-Mendez of reckless endangerment and sentenced him to 12 months of probation.
The agency also criticized the Colorado Rapid Response Network (CRRN), an anti-ICE group that responds to immigration raids to disrupt the operations.
“It is despicable that Colorado Rapid Response network would show up in defense of an alien who has abused children and attempted to injure our officers,” the ICE spokesperson said. “Our brave ICE law enforcement officers are facing an 830% increase in assaults against them as they carry out operations due to the misinformation activist groups spread.”
The investigation remains active and the search for Mendez-Chavez is ongoing. If seen, people can call the tip line anonymously at 866-347-2423 or submit a tip at ICE’s website.
