Colorado ICE raids could begin in Aurora this week, national report says
NBC reported that ICE's focus cities this week were Chicago, New York City and, soon, Aurora.
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Local immigration raids could begin on Thursday in Aurora as President Donald Trump’s administration targets a growing number of cities, according to a national media report.
NBC News first reported on Tuesday, citing information from three unnamed sources “familiar with the planning,” that an enforcement operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was planned to start in Aurora early Thursday morning.
Though Trump campaigned by calling part of his immigration enforcement plan “Operation Aurora,” large-scale ICE raids haven’t happened in the Denver area yet.
But across the country, federal immigration enforcement has ramped up after the new presidential administration set daily arrest quotas, according to The Washington Post. So far, raids have been reported in Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, California, Florida, Texas and New Jersey.
And in Adams County, 41 migrants without legal status — including associates tied to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang — were arrested on Sunday by agents with ICE, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. It was the result of an investigation that spanned months.
NBC reported that ICE’s focus cities this week were Chicago, New York City and, soon, Aurora.
For now, local officials haven’t confirmed Thursday’s potential raid in Aurora. It’s unclear whether an operation in Aurora would target certain types of immigrants or cast a wider net.
Steve Kotecki, a spokesman for ICE’s Denver field office, acknowledged that he received a request for comment from The Denver Post, but he didn’t immediately respond.
Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky said she could not confirm the plans, but added: “I am happy to see the number of arrests of Tren de Aragua gang members, and I hope to see that continue.”
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and city representatives didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
