DENVER — On Thursday, the border chief for Donald Trump placed blame on media leaks for impeding a significant operation targeting gang members in a suburb of Denver, which Trump has used to support claims linking immigration with rising violent crime.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency reported that over 100 members of the Tren de Aragua gang were the focus of raids conducted on Wednesday across apartment buildings and other locations in Denver and nearby Aurora.
While the precise number of arrests remains unclear, Fox News, which was part of the operation, stated that 30 individuals were detained, including at least one person affiliated with the Venezuelan gang. In contrast, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that more than 100 Tren de Aragua members were deported from Colorado that same day. However, it remains uncertain where these individuals would be sent, as Venezuela has been known to refuse to accept its returning citizens. Furthermore, the Defense Department revealed that 10 individuals sent to Guantanamo Bay were confirmed members of Tren de Aragua.
After the raid commenced, ICE shared updates via social media but directed inquiries regarding details and arrest counts to the Department of Homeland Security, which has yet to provide a timely response.
The operation saw a large presence of heavily armed personnel from multiple federal agencies, many arriving in armored vehicles. These officials conducted searches in various locations across the Denver area throughout the day, an event that has been anticipated since Trump’s inauguration.
They forcibly entered at least one apartment building, leading to significant backlash from activists who were present during some actions and voiced dissent against law enforcement.
Tom Homan, the border chief appointed by Trump, addressed the media on Thursday and stated that leaks about the operation had jeopardized the safety of the officers involved, who had received advance notice about the raids through media coverage. “This isn’t a game,” Homan emphasized. He noted the dangers posed by the Tren de Aragua gang and articulated concerns that early warnings could lead to an ambush against agents.
During a campaign event in Aurora last year, Trump pledged to combat migrant gangs on a national level, dubbing the initiative “Operation Aurora” after a video circulated showing armed gang members entering an apartment building just prior to a deadly shooting nearby.
Hannah Stickline recounted experiencing the raid firsthand, describing how six heavily armed agents arrived at her apartment at around 6 a.m., demanding to check her identification. After verifying her ID, they inquired about her neighbors’ immigration status, to which she refused to respond. “It’s insulting and infuriating because I would never snitch on my neighbors,” she remarked.
Fernando Martinez, who was visiting a friend in the same apartment complex, reported that Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents knocked on their door and subsequently forced entry using a battering ram. He described a chaotic scene involving a stun grenade that landed at his feet, but he was released after presenting his identification.
The DEA noted that three individuals at the complex had succumbed to fentanyl overdoses within the last month.
Trump’s promise of aggressive deportation efforts has led to increased expectations surrounding these large-scale operations. According to statistics, ICE averaged 787 arrests daily just before the end of January, starkly contrasting with the much lower average of 311 per day during the Biden administration for an entire year prior. ICE has ceased publishing daily arrest figures since then.
Homan, present in Colorado for that Wednesday’s initiative, indicated that arrest figures would rise as the focus broadened beyond just notorious criminals. ICE has portrayed its efforts under the slogan “The Worst First,” signaling a priority for individuals with criminal records. However, Homan made it clear that individuals who are undocumented are still at risk.
Leavitt added that “more than 8,000” undocumented individuals have been apprehended since Trump’s inauguration through the latest operations, with 461 of them released due to factors such as medical issues and insufficient detention space.
The day’s operation also extended to an almost vacant apartment complex that gained notoriety after a viral video emerged in August. Residents have been vacating the area, as only one building remains open until February 18 following a ruling deeming the complex a public safety hazard.
Last December, local law enforcement reported that a group, including seven suspected members of Tren de Aragua, assaulted and traumatized two fellow Venezuelan immigrants at this same complex. They are currently facing state charges, and nine individuals who were initially detained by ICE have since been transferred to local jail custody.
