Immigration Officer Charged with Assault After Colorado ICE Facility Protest An immigration officer has been charged with third-degree assault and criminal mischief following an investigation into the treatment of a protester outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Durango, Colorado. The charges stem from an incident in October 2025 during a protest against the detention of three Colombian asylum-seekers—a man and two children—who were apprehended while on their way to and from school. Multiple videos from bystanders show the officer, identified as Nicholas Rice, grabbing protester Franci Stagi by the hair, placing her in a chokehold, and pulling her across the street before throwing her down an embankment. Stagi, a retired hypnotherapist, said she initially approached the officer to get his attention after he struck her hand hard, causing her to drop her cellphone. She stated that after touching his shoulder, the officer grabbed her by the hair, set her neck in the crook of his arm, and carried her across the street by her head before throwing her to the ground. The Colorado Bureau of Investigations launched an investigation into Rice’s actions at the request of Durango Police Department Chief Brice Current, who raised concerns about possible violations of state law. Colorado is among several states that prohibited or severely limited police officers from using chokeholds and neck restraints following George Floyd’s death in 2020. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which employs Rice, acknowledged a request for comment but did not immediately respond to questions about the charges. Court documents did not list any attorney representing the officer. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Protection, criticized the prosecution as “unlawful” and a “political stunt,” asserting that states lack authority to investigate federal officers performing their duties. The incident has drawn attention to ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement practices and the use of force by federal agents during public demonstrations. As of April 2026, the case remains under legal review.
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