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ICE Confirms Custody of 16 Detainees After Aurora Incident

THE DETAINEES ARE FACING DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS OR HEARINGS BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE.

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Hours after Tom Homan, the upcoming “border czar” for the Trump administration, demanded that the Aurora detainees be handed over to ICE, the federal agency confirmed that it has 16 individuals in custody. All are Venezuelan nationals in the country without authorization. This figure corrects earlier reports, which mentioned 19 detainees following the violent assault and kidnapping at The Edge at Lowry apartment complex.

ICE clarified that the detainees are undergoing deportation proceedings or hearings before an immigration judge. According to an agency spokesperson, the 16 individuals were apprehended during a law enforcement operation at a residence on Dallas Street in Aurora, Colorado. Federal immigration authorities indicate that all detainees are suspected members or associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).

What Is Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)?

The procedure the detainees are undergoing is managed by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), a branch of ICE focused on “smart and effective enforcement of immigration laws.” In a statement, ICE noted, “The primary objective of ERO is to protect community safety and the integrity of immigration laws by detaining and removing individuals who pose a threat to public safety or have violated immigration laws”.

The ERO process is not automatic or immediate. Each case undergoes legal evaluation, which may include hearings before an immigration judge. In this instance, the suspects will remain in ICE custody while the necessary legal steps are determined, whether that be their removal from the country or the continuation of other immigration processes.

Chamberlain’s Position and Homan’s Reaction

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain was cautious in describing the detainees during his press conference. He refused to identify the individuals as members of a specific gang, limiting his statement to the fact that they are Venezuelan nationals, including both victims and aggressors. Chamberlain also confirmed that his department is working in coordination with federal authorities to identify the suspects and determine if they are connected to Tren de Aragua.

Meanwhile, Homan expressed regret that an ICE agent was not present during Chamberlain’s press conference and announced plans to meet soon with Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman to discuss the case. “This is not about immigration status. It’s about criminals victimizing our communities. These individuals must be turned over to ICE to be removed from the country,” Homan asserted.

Procedure Under Scrutiny

The speed with which the detainees were transferred to ICE custody has surprised local observers. Under Colorado’s legal process, the accused must first go through proceedings with a district attorney—whether in Adams, Arapahoe, or Douglas County—before ICE can intervene. The lack of details regarding how the transfer was coordinated has raised questions, particularly in light of Colorado’s laws prohibiting local police from directly cooperating with ICE without a judicial order.

ICE Confirms Custody of 16 Detainees After Aurora Incident

It is expected that Chamberlain or Mayor Coffman will clarify the legal grounds for this procedure and explain whether the detainees already had open cases with ICE or were in the deportation process, which might have expedited their transfer. Meanwhile, Aurora police continue their investigation, including searches of several units in the residential complex and the installation of security equipment to ensure better surveillance of the site where the incidents occurred.