U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a 16-year-old illegal immigrant from Colombia who sparked national outrage after receiving no jail time for causing a fatal crash that killed a young woman in Colorado. The teen, along with his family—also residing in the country illegally—was taken into custody and is now facing removal proceedings.
The incident traces back to July 2024, when the teen, driving over 90 miles per hour, crashed and killed 24-year-old Kaitlyn Weaver in Aurora, Colorado. Despite the severity of the offense, the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office offered a plea deal that resulted in probation and community service—no prison time. The decision drew swift condemnation from the public, law enforcement, and immigration officials alike.
“For the DA, justice meant probation for an illegal alien who killed a young woman. For ICE, justice means arrest and removal,” ICE’s Denver Field Office said in a statement after the arrest.
was arrested by ICE Denver officers last week and will remain in ICE custody pending an immigration hearing. pic.twitter.com/zdhjgyFYfb
— ICE Denver (@ERODenver) May 29, 2025
ICE officials emphasized that the teen’s actions—combined with the family’s unlawful presence in the United States—justified immediate detention. The agency confirmed that the family will remain in custody while they await immigration hearings.
The case has reignited debates around prosecutorial discretion, sanctuary policies, and the broader failures of the immigration system. Critics argue that giving a light sentence to a criminal alien who took an innocent life sends a dangerous message and undermines the rule of law. Supporters of the plea deal, however, claim the teen’s age warranted leniency and a chance at rehabilitation.
Kaitlyn Weaver’s family has expressed deep frustration and heartbreak over how the justice system handled the case. “There was no justice for our daughter,” a family spokesperson said. “This was preventable. And now we’re being told to accept it and move on.”
The arrest by ICE now places the teen and his family squarely in the crosshairs of a renewed push for accountability and deportation. The case remains a flashpoint in the national conversation on illegal immigration and the need for law enforcement and judicial systems that prioritize victims, not political correctness.