The Colorado Immigrant Coalition and other community organizations today called on the immigrant community to remain calm and educate themselves about their rights after confirming that immigration agents conducted operations in five state cities during the past 24 hours.
“Through direct testimony from people who called our Quick Response Line we have confirmed that there were Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Aurora, El Jebel, Glenwood Springs, Woodland Park and Colorado Springs,” said Efe Ana Rodríguez, spokesperson for the Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA).
“We have also received confirmation from one of our allied organizations, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), which contacted ICE and confirmed the arrests,” he said.
However, despite the confirmations, so far the authorities have not released any official communiqué on the operatives nor is known, according to Rodríguez, the number of undocumented arrested.
In addition, it is possible that there have been detentions in the popular ski center of Aspen, although there is lack of precisions on that possible operative.
In all cases, she said, ICE agents would have focused on those over 18 who arrived in the United States as children, but without proper documentation, and suspected of being affiliated with gangs.
Rodríguez said that COPA and the Immigrant Coalition are working “to connect impacted individuals and their families with resources”, both legal assistance and specific assistance, if necessary.
He said the operations would have been “specifically targeted” at the detainees, but said that such actions could also lead to the arrest of people ICE initially did not seek but who were in the same home as the detained immigrant.
“Everyone should know that, whether or not they have roles, we all have rights, such as being silent, not answering questions about immigration status, and asking to consult with a lawyer before answering questions,” she said. leader.
He added that “it is better to cooperate if agents arrive with a warrant or search warrant duly signed by a judge and with the name of the judge and county.”
In Colorado, between March 31 and April 1, ICE agents arrested 21 undocumented workers, of whom 18 were Mexicans.
Half of those arrested were in Aurora, a suburb east of Denver, while five others were arrested at the same time in Wyoming, which forms a single ICE jurisdiction with Colorado.
“If people see ICE actions, they call us, to document what is happening and to help. We all have constitutional rights and the best plan is to use those rights,” Rodriguez suggested.
