Attorneys for software engineer Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas are challenging her July 20 arrest at Denver International Airport through a federal habeas corpus petition. While ICE officials state she overstayed her visa, her lawyers contend the warrantless arrest ignored her pending status application and lack of criminal history. The case has sparked debate over immigration enforcement during routine domestic travel and the ‘Mass Deportation Program’ surge.
- Lawyers for Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas filed a habeas corpus petition challenging her arrest by ICE.
- The software engineer was arrested at Denver International Airport while boarding a domestic flight to California.
- The petition argues the arrest was conducted without a warrant despite a pending application for legal status.
Attorneys for Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas filed a federal habeas corpus petition on July 23 challenging her arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement while she tried to board a flight at Denver International Airport. The filing asks a federal court to review her detention under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
ICE agents approached Morales Rojas on a jetway as she prepared to board a Southwest Airlines flight from Denver to Oakland, California, on July 20. Agents took her down an exterior stairway and placed her in a Homeland Security vehicle on the tarmac.
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A video of the arrest spread online. She remains detained at the Aurora ICE Processing Center in Colorado, which the GEO Group manages.
The petition puts three issues before the court. Her attorneys argue that ICE arrested her without a warrant, failed to make an individualized finding that detention was necessary, and disregarded a pending application that allowed her to remain while immigration authorities reviewed her case.
Her lawyers say a pending application shaped the arrest dispute
Morales Rojas entered the United States as a J-1 exchange visitor and later worked as an au pair. She is a 27-year-old software engineer and student from Ecuador.
Her attorneys say she has no criminal history. She had also passed background checks connected to work authorization, they said.
The lawyers describe her as living openly while the government knew about her pending applications. Friends and former employers have gathered in Denver to seek her release, pointing to her childcare work and software skills.
The filing is identified as Morales Rojas v. [Field Office Director] in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. It was filed July 23, 2026.
DHS says she overstayed a visa and remains in removal proceedings
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest on July 20 and said the agency acted under federal law. Its statement described Morales Rojas as an “illegal alien from Ecuador.”
"On July 20, 2026, ICE arrested Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas, an illegal alien from Ecuador. She entered the country on October 20, 2024, on a visa that would allow her to stay in the country until January 4, 2025. In violation of our nation's laws, she overstayed her visa. She remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings."
The statement sets out the government’s account of her entry and visa period. Her attorneys’ filing disputes the legality of holding her while her application remained under review.
An ICE spokesperson said July 24 that the agency’s actions were “legal and proper.” The spokesperson said the arrest followed standard operating procedures for people identified as being in the country without valid status.
The case therefore turns on more than the government’s allegation that her visa expired. The court will assess the detention arguments raised under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and the facts surrounding the pending application.
Federal agencies did not notify the airport before the arrest
The airport said federal agencies operate lawfully at the facility and exercise jurisdiction there without having to notify airport officials about their activity.
"As an airport, a number of federal agencies lawfully operate and have jurisdiction at DEN. As such, they are not required to inform the airport of their activity."
The arrest occurred in a departure area used by domestic travelers. That setting has fueled concern among undocumented people and immigrants with pending cases who may otherwise view domestic air travel as routine.
Southwest Airlines also faced criticism after the video circulated. The airline said it did not directly “tip off” ICE, while federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration and DHS have automatic access to passenger manifests as part of security protocols.
The arrest comes during a broader enforcement surge
ICE averaged 1,593 arrests per day in early July 2026, according to government data. The administration has described its wider effort as the “Mass Deportation Program.”
DHS messaging often emphasizes removing people it calls the “worst of the worst.” The research cited in this case says a substantial share of people currently detained have no criminal records, including Morales Rojas according to her attorneys.
Her detention has also drawn attention to conditions at the Aurora facility. Recent reports indicate an ongoing tuberculosis outbreak among detainees there.
The immediate legal question remains her custody. The petition seeks judicial review as she faces possible removal proceedings, while ICE continues to maintain that the arrest complied with agency procedures.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
