Illegal Immigrant Accused in Colorado Kidnapping Busted in Chicago Sanctuary City

A Venezuelan illegal immigrant wanted for his role in a violent gang kidnapping in Colorado has finally been captured — in Chicago, a sanctuary city that allowed him to hide in plain sight.

Jorman Jose Cuba-Zabala was arrested by the Chicago Police Department on April 28 after allegedly shoplifting over $800 worth of sunglasses. What began as a retail theft bust turned into a major breakthrough in a months-long manhunt. According to Aurora, Colorado police, Cuba-Zabala was the final fugitive tied to a December 2024 kidnapping case that shocked the state.

Authorities say Cuba-Zabala was one of nearly a dozen armed members of Tren de Aragua — a violent Venezuelan prison gang — who stormed a couple’s apartment in Aurora. The gang allegedly bound, assaulted, and terrorized the couple in a vacant unit at The Edge at Lowry, a complex overtaken by the gang. Surveillance footage showing gang members attempting to break into neighboring units went viral at the time.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain confirmed the crime was “100% gang activity.” But several suspects, including Cuba-Zabala, evaded capture for months.

That changed after his arrest in Chicago, a city that’s drawn sharp criticism for shielding illegal immigrants from deportation. The Department of Homeland Security said Cuba-Zabala crossed the southern border illegally in June 2023 and was allowed into the U.S. under the Biden administration’s policies. He later traveled to Colorado, where he allegedly joined the Tren de Aragua cell.

Following his Chicago arrest, Cuba-Zabala was extradited to Colorado earlier this month to face kidnapping and assault charges.

Homeland Security officials slammed Chicago’s sanctuary laws, blaming the city for harboring a violent criminal who should have been detained or deported long ago.

“Tragically, this isn’t the first time a sanctuary city protected a dangerous criminal from justice,” one DHS official told The Daily Wire. “This is what happens when local leaders put open borders ahead of public safety.”

The Biden administration has faced growing pressure from law enforcement and Republican leaders to crack down on criminal migrants and transnational gangs, particularly as Tren de Aragua expands its foothold in American cities.

Cuba-Zabala is now behind bars in Colorado, awaiting trial.