Denver, CO – We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the indiscriminate and unjustified immigration raids that took place across the metro area yesterday. The operations, which involved over 100 agents from multiple federal and local agencies, including ICE, FBI, ATF, DEA, DHS, and HSI targeted immigrant families without presenting a judicial warrant, detained individuals without cause, and terrorized our communities.
No Warrant, No Justification, Just Fear.
“These raids are a disgraceful abuse of power, an attack on families, and a direct attempt to criminalize immigrants who are simply trying to build their lives. We will not let these actions go unanswered,” said Andrea Loya, Executive Director with Casa De Paz.
Despite requests from legal observers and volunteers at multiple raid sites, agents refused to present judicial warrants or provide any details about the purpose of their operations. Instead, they indiscriminately questioned residents about their citizenship status, went door to door, and used the full force of multiple law enforcement agencies to detain individuals—some of whom are actively in the process of seeking asylum.
“These were indiscriminate shows of force that violated the constitutional rights of US Citizens and non-citizens alike that were meant to terrorize the immigrant community that has already been scapegoated in political rhetoric,” said Caitlin Trent, Political Director with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition in reference to the raid at the Cedar Run Apartment Complex. “Agents denied volunteers access to inform people of their rights, blocked residents—including U.S. citizens—from re-entering their own homes, and tore a man from his car in front of his family.”
“ICE destroyed a tenant’s door, completely ripping the locks off the door handle itself, and entering without a warrant. Neighbors that were impacted informed us that ICE shot rubber bullets at tenants in their pursuit – terrorizing the entire neighborhood” said Kayla Frawley, Organizing Director with Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA).
Law Enforcement Resources Wasted on Political Stunts
This is a waste of taxpayer dollars and an insult to law enforcement officers who should be working on real investigations — not carrying out politically motivated operations designed to intimidate and terrorize immigrant families.
“This is disrespectful to the very agents who are sworn to protect public safety. What message does it send when over 100 officers from multiple agencies are deployed to go after families simply because of their immigration status?” said Henry Sandman, Co-Executive Director for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.
Meanwhile, ICE and anti-immigrant Sheriffs in Colorado are using the moment to spread false narratives by painting a picture of our community being overrun by crime, and claiming that our community is unsafe due to Colorado legislation that prevents the overreach of federal authorities in our criminal legal system. “We know that our community is safer when law enforcement are not engaged in immigration enforcement, when our community feels safe reporting crime and abuse, and when court proceedings can be carried out without ICE intimidating witnesses, victims and defendants and violating due process” said Mekela Goehring, Executive Director with the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN).
Community Response & Call to Action
The only reason more people were not taken yesterday is because community volunteers were on the ground, informing residents not to open their doors without a judicial warrant. ICE had trucks and buses ready, yet they only detained a handful of people at one site where volunteers were present—showing just how little cause they actually had.
“We’re immensely proud of those of our migrant neighbors who stood up to xenophobic, state-sanctioned violence yesterday and showed that an informed community is a protected one. We will continue defending our rights to raise our families in safe and dignified housing, no matter the political climate,” says V Reeves, Housekeys Action Network Denver organizer working alongside former and current CBZ Management tenants.
Please consider supporting their swift relocation before a closing date of the 18th this month, and before federal officers return to further terrorize them, here.
Coloradans showed up in the thousands for dignity and democracy, we won’t back down.
In response to these outrageous raids, over a thousand Coloradans gathered yesterday at the Capitol to denounce these attacks on our immigrant communities and demand an end to mass deportations. Our communities are standing strong and we refuse to be silenced by fear and intimidation. Join us this Saturday, February 8th at 2 PM at the Capitol as we continue to demand justice and resist the criminalization of immigrants.
“Join us Saturday at the Capitol to show, in Colorado, we stand strong for ourselves and our loved ones. Together we resisted inhumane and unconstitutional acts, we cried, we comforted one another and we found joy in our beautiful community as we marched. The young adults and youth who led yesterday will not have their futures or their family stolen and we will back them at every step,” shared Jennifer Piper, with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
Know Your Rights – Protect Yourself & Your Community
- Do NOT open the door unless agents show a JUDICIAL warrant signed by a judge. ICE warrants, DHS warrants not signed by a judge, do not give them permission to enter.
- Stay silent & do not sign anything—You have the right to remain silent. Do not answer questions about your immigration status or sign any documents without legal advice.
- Record & report—If you witness an immigration enforcement action or know someone taken by ICE, call the Colorado Rapid Response Network at 1-844-864-8341 for support.
Signed,
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
The Colorado Rapid Response Network (CORRN)
Casa de Paz
Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA)
Colorado Jobs with Justice
ACLU of Colorado
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN)
Juntos Community
Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND)
East Colfax Community Collective (ECCC)
Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning
Together Colorado