Colorado Prepares for Immigration Raids as Crackdowns May Have Already Begun
Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora is being prepared as a detention center for “Operation Aurora,” a mass deportation effort expected to begin Thursday under the Trump administration.
U.S. Northern Command confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requested the base serve as a temporary operations hub and detention facility. ICE officials and federal law enforcement will oversee the operation.
However, signs suggest enforcement began earlier. On Sunday morning, a raid on an Adams County warehouse nightclub led to 49 arrests, but nearly 48 hours later, no criminal charges had been filed.
Uncertainty Over Fate of Those Detained
Authorities claim many detainees are members of a violent Venezuelan gang, yet there’s no public record of charges or court appearances. Neither the Adams County Sheriff’s Office nor the District Attorney’s Office has received investigative reports from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
District Attorney Brian Mason expressed frustration: “I learned about that raid on the news like everyone else.” He noted that if state crimes were involved, his office would typically be contacted—but hasn’t been.
The DEA confirmed 41 of the 49 detainees were undocumented, but their whereabouts remain unknown. Immigration attorneys believe many were sent directly to the ICE detention center in Aurora.
Laura Lunn, an attorney with the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, reported that family members have reached out about missing detainees. “If these individuals had criminal charges, they’d be in criminal custody. Instead, they were likely placed in immigration detention,” she said.
Tensions Between Federal and Local Officials
Disputes between local and federal authorities are escalating as the Trump administration prioritizes mass deportations, while officials like Mason want accused criminals prosecuted in state courts.
Last week, Mason dropped charges against Jhonnarty Pacheco-Chirinos, a Venezuelan gang member accused in a 2023 Aurora shootout, due to insufficient evidence. His current status is unknown.
Meanwhile, NBC News confirmed Aurora is a primary target for Operation Aurora. U.S. Northern Command’s involvement at Buckley Space Force Base signals the scale of the crackdown.
Federal officials have not commented, while Aurora city officials stated, “Colorado law prohibits local governments from enforcing immigration policies. We focus on state and local laws.”
With tensions rising, the fate of those already detained—and the extent of the upcoming raids—remains uncertain.
