ICE raids targeting Venezuelan gang members in Colorado were compromised by intelligence leaks, leaving law enforcement scrambling to salvage the operation.
At a Glance
- Border Czar Tom Homan expressed anger over intelligence leaks that disrupted planned ICE raids in Colorado
- The operation targeted members of the Tren de Aragua gang, but only 30 arrests were made, far short of the expected 100
- ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello suggested that intelligence leaks may have compromised the operation
- Homan announced that the source of the leak has been identified and promised to address the issue
- Anti-ICE activists were present during the raids, further complicating the operation
Leaked Intelligence Hampers ICE Operation
A major Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation targeting the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Colorado was severely compromised by intelligence leaks, according to Border Czar Tom Homan. The raids, which involved multiple federal agencies including ICE, DHS, FBI, CBP, and DEA, were conducted across several locations in Aurora and Denver. Despite extensive searches, only 30 arrests were made, with just one being a confirmed Tren de Aragua member, falling far short of the expected 100 arrests.
ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello addressed the setback, stating, “I do get the impression that there were some intel leaks here. And I think that probably they did know that we were coming.”
Homan Vows to Address Leaks
In response to the operational failures, Tom Homan has taken a firm stance on addressing the security breach. “We’ve already identified how this operation got leaked,” Homan declared, signaling that those responsible may face consequences. The Border Czar emphasized the importance of operational security (OpSec) and suggested reducing media involvement to protect agents and ensure the success of future operations.
“It’s all about OpSec, operation security, so we may have to stop the media ride-along because I’m not pointing the finger at it, but the less people that know about these operations, the safer this for our agents,” Homan told reporters.
Challenges in Immigration Enforcement
ICE has reported arresting nearly 12,000 individuals, with the majority being criminals or public safety threats. However, the agency’s efforts are often hampered by local “sanctuary state” policies that limit cooperation between local jails and federal immigration authorities.
“Unfortunately we have to come to the community because we don’t get the cooperation we need from the jails. It would be so much easier and so much safer for our officers and agents if we could take these people into custody from a safe environment, but if we have to come out into the community to do this, that’s what we are going to do,” Vitello said.
The raids have sparked controversy, with some local officials and immigration activists criticizing the operations. Aurora Councilmember Alison Coombs linked the raids to the revocation of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, calling the timing “both predictable and despicable.” However, other residents supported the raids, citing concerns about crime and safety in their neighborhoods.
