Federal officers from multiple US agencies conducted immigration raids in Aurora, Colorado, on Wednesday, targeting undocumented immigrants in the city, which has a significant migrant population and was a focal point of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies during his campaign.
Authorities said they were pursuing over 100 alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang with origins in prison systems that has expanded across the Americas. However, a Reuters eyewitness reported that officers were knocking on all doors and detaining individuals suspected of being in the US illegally, suggesting the raids were not solely focused on gang members.
The Denver field office of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated on social media that the operation was conducted in partnership with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and US Marshals Service. ICE did not disclose the number of individuals detained, but local media reported seeing several people being placed in handcuffs and transported on buses.
While some residents claim Tren de Aragua has gained a presence in Aurora, local officials have dismissed concerns about the gang’s influence in the area as exaggerated and inflammatory.
Trump, who held a campaign rally in Aurora just weeks before the November election, previously outlined his immigration plans, including a national initiative called “Operation Aurora” to crack down on gang activity. Since taking office last month, he has issued executive orders aimed at intensifying immigration enforcement, with federal agencies promoting recent raids as part of a broader plan to increase deportations.
ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello, speaking at one of the Aurora raid sites, stated in a video posted on social media that the operations were focused on alleged gang members, adding,
“As long as there are bad guys in the streets, we’re going to be out here arresting them.”
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, criticised the federal immigration actions, stating that neither the Denver Police Department nor city officials were involved or given advance notice of the raids.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, also a Democrat, expressed support for apprehending dangerous criminals to improve public safety but called for greater transparency from the federal government regarding immigration enforcement efforts in the state to ease fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities.