An unidentified spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement called Routt County Commissioner Angelica Salinas’ public statement about being confronted by ICE officers a “blatant and pathetic lie” in a Tuesday email to the newspaper.

The statement came after ICE officers reportedly “boxed in” Salinas at the post office in Oak Creek after she took a video of operations from her vehicle and shared the video in a Sept. 24 social media post.

“I stand by my account,” Salinas said in a Tuesday statement to the newspaper. “The static photo ICE shared only captures one instant in our interaction. The reality was there was one vehicle behind and another one beside me, both with masked armed men inside, which absolutely felt intimidating. I rolled down my window and smiled in an effort to signal calm — not because I felt comfortable.”

“I appreciate this communication confirms that unidentified, armed, masked men were following me in unmarked vehicles and taking pictures. It is also helpful to finally get confirmation that these were indeed federal agents,” she continued. “Until now, ICE has operated in our community with zero communication, leaving people to wonder who masked, armed individuals in unmarked vehicles actually are. That lack of transparency fuels fear and distrust.”

On Monday, a reporter sent an email to the ICE public affairs office inquiring over what qualifies as obstruction of justice, along with questions about agent training and racial profiling.

“ICE agents in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, were merely driving along a street when the commissioner encountered them; she smiled and waved as agents passed her,” the unidentified ICE spokesperson said in a Tuesday response. “The Routt County commissioner’s blatant and pathetic lie about being ‘boxed in’ or intimidated in any way contributes to the 1000% increase in assaults against them. Her smear is irresponsible.”

The official ICE spokesperson did not disclose their identity or role within the agency, nor did they respond to any of the initial questions sent.

Included in the email to the newspaper was a photo depicting a vehicle driving southbound on Colorado 131 in Oak Creek.

“The media falling all over themselves to report on this need to ask, does this look anything like being ‘boxed in?'” the ICE spokesperson wrote.

The ICE spokesperson added that the photo was taken from an agent’s vehicle, but the spokesperson did not specify when or where it was taken.

Last week, ICE officials could not confirm the ongoing activity in Steamboat due to concerns regarding “officer safety,” said ICE Public Affairs Officer Steve Kotecki.

Kotecki was out of the office at the time of Tuesday’s statement from the unidentified ICE spokesperson.

The Steamboat Springs Police Department and Routt County Sheriff’s Office told the newspaper last week that they continue to receive no notification from ICE regarding an increased presence and activity in the area.

“Neither the Steamboat Springs Police Department nor the Routt County Sheriff’s Office can confirm these operations, as we do not have any communication with immigration enforcement officials at this time,” said Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar in a statement last week.

Social media posts continue to document ICE activity in Routt County, with the local nonprofit Integrated Community — which supports and assists immigrants — posting videos to its Facebook account.

A video posted Friday shows an ICE officer breaking the driver’s side window of a vehicle. The driver sped away from the ICE agents after the window was smashed.

The ICE spokesperson did not comment on the number of people arrested in Routt County last week.

Jerry Hernandez, executive director of Integrated Community, also said that the organization does not track arrest numbers, but he noted that he would like to see more transparency from ICE.

“They have a legal right to operate,” he said in a Tuesday interview. “Maybe they don’t want to give out a lot of information because they’re concerned for their safety, but I’m curious if there is a level of information that can be shared with local law enforcement.”

Hernandez added that if local law enforcement agencies were notified of increased ICE activity, the agencies could provide the community with some answers to mitigate fear.

“I know there are state-level laws in place that say local law enforcement doesn’t participate in joint operations,” he continued. “I’m just curious if, as a community member, there’s a benefit to sharing that information.”

The Steamboat Springs School District said that some of last week’s student absences were “related to concerns about recent ICE activity,” but did not see a “significant shift in attendance patterns across the district,” said Director of Communications Laura Milius in a Monday email.

“We also understand that this situation has caused anxiety for some families,” Milius added. “Our priority is ensuring that every student feels safe and supported at school, and we remain committed to providing a welcoming environment where all students can learn and thrive.”

“Every day, people in our community reach out to me, sharing they are scared to send their kids to school or go to work,” Salinas said in the statement. “As an elected official, it is heartbreaking to hear these things from the community you represent.”

“Questions remain: why were they following me, and why were they taking pictures of me?” 

“We know that local law enforcement officials announce and identify themselves when performing their jobs,” she continued. “We would like to have the same standards and transparency for our federal law enforcement. 

“I respect the role of all law enforcement agencies. Local elected officials have a duty to be transparent about how interactions with federal authorities affect them and their communities.”

To contact Integrated Community, visit CiicColorado.org.