A leaked operation in Aurora, Colorado, allowed members of the Tren de Aragua gang to escape an ICE raid, but border czar Tom Homan is moving forward with efforts to remove criminal aliens and prosecute those responsible for tipping off gang members.
Federal agents had planned to detain more than 100 individuals, with a focus on Tren de Aragua members and other violent offenders. However, when officers arrived at known hideouts, many of the locations were empty. In total, ICE arrested 30 individuals, with only one confirmed gang member taken into custody.
Homan revealed that the leak has already been traced to its source and that legal action is being prepared. He made it clear that interfering with law enforcement operations puts officers and communities in danger and vowed to ensure that such disruptions are met with prosecution.
Activists gathered in Aurora during the raids, using megaphones to warn illegal aliens of ICE’s presence. Some protesters shouted at officers, while others instructed migrants not to cooperate or open their doors. Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky noted that activist groups in the area have been working to move migrants around to help them avoid capture.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks confirmed that a local media outlet may have played a role in tipping off activists ahead of the operation. Homan responded by saying that future ICE raids may restrict media access to prevent similar leaks from undermining enforcement efforts.
Despite the setback, Homan said ICE remains committed to removing criminal aliens. Since President Donald Trump took office, the agency has arrested around 12,000 illegal aliens, and efforts to track down those who evaded capture in Aurora will continue.
