°µºÚ±¬ÁÏ

© 2025
NPR °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ, Colorado Stories
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Department of Homeland Security confirms early morning raids in Denver metro area

Multiple people in camouflage and tactical gear carry rifles outside of a large building.
David Zalubowski
/
AP
Law officials move through an apartment complex during a raid Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in east Denver.

Multiple reports show that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted raids early Wednesday morning in Aurora and the Denver metro area. Alongside them were officers and agents from multiple agencies including the ATF. However, the extent of the initiative is not clear at this time.

Get top headlines and KUNC reporting directly to your mailbox each week when you subscribe to In The NoCo.

* indicates required

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, confirmed the action with a post on Twitter/X. The post includes a video showing two people in full tactical gear throwing what appears to be flashbangs or stun grenades. The post says the officers are serving warrants.

The the raids include the Edge of Lowry, Whispering Pines and Cedar Run apartment complexes. They believe the raids are focused on Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang.

The City of Aurora has been in the political spotlight for months after videos surfaced that suggested the gang was active in apartment complexes. The clips were used politically as talking points in the immigration debate and eventually led the city to be used as a campaign stop for President Trump last October.

Alex Murphy is the digital producer for KUNC. He focuses on creative ways to tell stories that matter to people living across Colorado. In the past, he’s worked for NBC and CBS affiliates, and written for numerous outdoor publications including GearJunkie, Outside, Trail Runner, The Trek and more.