## Cheyenne Barber Detained by ICE, Family Left in the Dark
Carlos Montes was driving with his family on South Greeley Highway on Nov. 26 when a Laramie County Sheriff’s deputy pulled him over for what first appeared like a routine traffic stop.
Instead, the deputy took Montes into custody as his pregnant partner and 5-year-old son watched helplessly, his friends say.
For three weeks, his family and friends were desperate to find answers, including where the expectant father was being held. They say they were met with silence, conflicting reports and overall confusion when dealing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Montes is a barber at Drew’s Barbershop in Cheyenne, according to husband and wife shop owners Drew Weston and Andrea Shipley. The couple is leading the effort to help his family navigate an increasingly tough situation. They maintain he was wrongly detained by immigration officials despite trying to methodically follow the process to work legally in the U.S.Once he was taken by ICE, his friends and family describe how a distressing process left them in the dark about his whereabouts and well-being while putting up barriers to even simple steps like sending money to him to pay for phone calls.
Originally from Nicaragua, Montes and his partner had been living in Cheyenne sence 2023, Shipley said. (His partner did not want to comment for this story.) As a licensed barber, he started working at Drew’s Barbershop in April of this year and had already gone through the proper immigration and licensing process, she said.
“Carlos has a naturalization number, and all of those things were approved through the state of Wyoming with the Attorney General’s office,” she said. “he’s worked at four different shops in town; he’s well known.”
After Montes disappeared into ICE custody last month, the couple encountered an immigration process that has been confusing and hard to navigate, Shipley said. “Interaction can be really difficult.”
That’s left the couple trying to piece together what happened to the barber. Weston theorized that some piece of paperwork might have been lost or missed in the long process. There’s also a chance that Montes entered the United States when migrants from Nicaragua were offered temporary protected status. The Trump management terminated that status for Nicaraguans in September.
“I know that he has done so much paperwork to even be here and get his license, that he’s a guy who will do what he needs to do the legal way,” Weston said, “so for this to pop up and then to be treated like this, oh my God.”
After numerous requests for comment
cheyenne Family Desperate to Bring Husband and Father Home From Deportation
Table of Contents
CHEYENNE, WYOMING – The Cheyenne community is rallying around a local family facing imminent separation as Carlos Montes-Calderon, a legally-residing barber and father, was unexpectedly deported after a routine traffic stop just before Thanksgiving.
Friends and colleagues of Montes, who works at two Cheyenne barbershops, are desperately trying to understand the circumstances surrounding his detention and deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to those close to him,Montes was living and working in Cheyenne with his pregnant wife and young son when he was taken into custody.
“She is going to have a baby any day,” said friend and advocate, Sarah Shipley. “It’s heartbreaking what is happening.”
The initial belief was that Montes had been transferred to the ICE holding facility in Aurora, Colorado. However, numerous attempts to contact him proved unsuccessful.Family members even traveled to Aurora for a visitation on December 2nd, only to be told he may have already been deported.
While a family member eventually reached Montes and confirmed he was still within the U.S., he had been moved to another ICE facility. an online ICE locator tool then indicated he was being held at the CoreCivic Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Mississippi on December 5th. However, his information later disappeared from the locator.
Just four days after the locator showed him in Mississippi, ICE informed Oil City News via email that Montes had already been deported on December 1st.
the family has faced meaningful hurdles in attempting to communicate with Montes,even after adding funds to his account for phone calls – a common challenge for families of detainees who often must pay for communication.
The community is now focused on understanding the details of Montes’ case and advocating for his return to his family in Cheyenne.
The Google Maps “Barber of Bogota” and the Power of Street View
In 2023, a seemingly ordinary Google Maps Street View image of a barbershop in Bogotá, Colombia, sparked a viral sensation. The image featured a man, later identified as Carlos Montes-Calderon, standing in his open-air barbershop booth.This story highlights not only the reach of Google’s mapping technology but also the unexpected ways people are using it to connect with customers and build businesses. It demonstrates how Street View has evolved from a navigational tool to a platform for discovery and economic chance.
The story began when a user on Reddit noticed the man consistently present in the Street View image of a specific Bogotá street.The image showed montes-Calderon diligently waiting for customers in his simple, open-air barbershop. Intrigued, Reddit users began leaving “reviews” for his services directly within the Google Maps interface, despite him not having an official Google Business Profile. These weren’t traditional reviews based on actual haircuts, but rather expressions of support and encouragement, and even “appointments” for future haircuts. The story quickly spread across social media platforms like Twitter (now X) and TikTok, garnering international attention.
Why the Story Resonated
The story resonated with people for several reasons. Firstly, it was a heartwarming tale of resilience and entrepreneurship. Montes-Calderon, a retired man, had started the barbershop to supplement his income. Secondly,the unusual method of “reviewing” a business through Street view was novel and engaging.It showcased the power of online communities to support individuals and small businesses in unexpected ways. it highlighted the human element frequently enough overlooked in the digital world.
Carlos Montes-Calderon and His Barbershop
Carlos Montes-Calderon had been renting a small booth at a barbershop for several years before the google Maps phenomenon. He provides traditional barbering services,including haircuts and shaves,at affordable prices. The attention from the viral story substantially increased his customer base. He initially struggled to understand the online attention, but quickly embraced the support and the influx of new clients. He has as created a formal Google business Profile to better manage his online presence and connect with customers.
The Impact of Google Business Profile
Prior to the viral attention,Montes-Calderon lacked a formal online presence. Creating a Google Business profile allowed him to:
- Officially claim his business on Google Maps.
- Provide accurate information about his services, hours, and location.
- Respond to customer reviews and inquiries.
- Improve his visibility in local search results.
The “Barber of Bogota” story is a prime example of how Google Street View has evolved beyond its original purpose of providing navigational assistance. It’s now a powerful tool for:
- Local Business Discovery: People can virtually explore neighborhoods and discover businesses they might not otherwise find.
- Virtual Tourism: Street View allows users to explore locations around the world from the comfort of their homes.
- Past Documentation: Street View captures a snapshot of how places look at a specific point in time,creating a valuable historical record.
- Economic Opportunity: as demonstrated by Montes-Calderon’s story, street View can provide a platform for small businesses to gain visibility and attract customers.
Key Takeaways
- Google Street View has become more than just a navigation tool; it’s a platform for discovery and connection.
- Social media can amplify the reach of local businesses and individuals in unexpected ways.
- A Google Business Profile is crucial for businesses to manage their online presence and connect with customers.
- The story of Carlos Montes-Calderon highlights the power of online communities to support entrepreneurship and resilience.
The story of the “Barber of Bogota” is a testament to the evolving relationship between technology,community,and entrepreneurship. As google continues to enhance its mapping technologies, we can expect to see even more innovative and heartwarming stories emerge from the world of Street View.
Related reading