Chantal Morales Rojas had been living in Oakland and was returning from a visit to Denver with her former host family, according to Bay Area resident Alycia Dantzker. Dantzker said Rojas previously worked for the family as an au pair when they lived in Santa Cruz County. The family has since moved to Denver.
Dantzker said she has known Rojas for three years and described her as caring, calm and wise.
"She knows so much about babies. She's got this calm, a lot of wisdom, and just really, really smart and incredibly kind and caring," Dantzker said.
Dantzker said a man approached Rojas at Denver International Airport and questioned her about her immigration status. She said additional people in civilian clothes later gathered around Rojas on the jetway before she was taken into custody.
Dantzker recorded the arrest.
"It was hard to believe it was really happening. But I had a plan to record and bring as much attention to it as I could," she said.
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ICE and Rojas' attorney have provided conflicting accounts of her immigration status.
In a statement to Bay Area-based American Community Media, ICE said Rojas overstayed her visa.
"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," ICE said.
Rojas' attorney, Laura Lichter, disputed the agency's account in a statement to American Community Media.
"Chantal came to the United States lawfully in early 2023 on a J-1 exchange visitor visa as an au pair," Lichter said. "She followed the rules of her program and, before it ended, timely filed an application with U.S. immigration authorities that allowed her to remain in the country while her case has been pending."
Dantzker said she believes Rojas followed the available immigration process.
"Shantel is following every rule possible, and they stripped her of her freedom as cruelly as possible. And it doesn't make sense in terms of resources," Dantzker said.
ICE said Rojas remains in custody pending removal proceedings. Her attorneys have filed a habeas petition seeking her release.
Rojas is being held at an ICE detention facility in Colorado. Dantzker said Rojas has described the experience as a nightmare but remains encouraged by support from others.
"She has said that it feels like she's living a nightmare, but at the same time that she feels the support of the community," Dantzker said.
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Dantzker created a GoFundMe to help pay Rojas' legal expenses. The fundraiser had collected more than $100,000.
Rojas' arrest occurred during the same week that another ICE arrest at San Francisco International Airport drew national attention. That case involved a Ukrainian woman detained by plainclothes officers.
Demonstrators gathered Saturday for a national day of action against ICE, including events at Sue Bierman Park in San Francisco and in Mountain View.
Dantzker said Rojas is trying to remain hopeful while her attorneys seek her release.
"She's going to make really, really sure to take good care of herself and to not lose hope," Dantzker said.
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