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Organizations Demand Justice After Joint Operation by Aurora Police Department and ICE

IN AURORA | Venezuelan residents of The Edge at Lowry. (Photo/El Comercio de Colorado)

ORGANIZATIONS CRITICIZED THE RAIDS AS SEVERE VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND AN ASSAULT ON THE DIGNITY OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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On December 17, 2024, a joint operation by the Aurora Police Department (APD) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sparked outrage among residents and pro-immigrant organizations. The raid took place at The Edge at Lowry apartments, where dozens of people, including minors, were detained without arrest warrants.

Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND), East Colfax Community Collective (EC3), Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA), Casa de Paz, American Friends Service Committee (AFS), Convivir Colorado, and the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) condemned the raids as violations of civil rights and an assault on the dignity of the immigrant community. During the operation, residents were forced to remain in freezing temperatures from 3:00 to 4:30 a.m.

The organizations reported that migrants were handcuffed without access to food, water, or restrooms. In a joint statement, they noted that parents of minor children reported their children being separated from them and interrogated without the presence of an adult. Activists assert that conducting a police operation in this manner has caused profound psychological trauma for affected families.

Calls for an End to the Raids

“The operation left a trail of fear, distrust, and shattered families,” said Nayda Benitez, spokesperson for CIRC. According to Benitez, the actions—deemed illegal and inhumane—have been criticized as collective punishment that does not contribute to community safety. The detention of key household earners will severely impact the economic stability of families, increasing food and housing insecurity.

Activists also pointed out that such raids erode trust in local authorities, causing immigrants to avoid reporting crimes or cooperating with investigations. “This is not justice; it is an attack on the dignity and humanity of our community,” said Tania Chairez, executive director of Convivir Colorado.

Jennifer Piper, from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), emphasized that these tactics do not make Aurora safer and called for accountability from APD and ICE. Meanwhile, Casa de Paz, COPA, and HAND have raised their voices in solidarity with affected families, demanding an immediate end to the raids and an independent investigation into the collaboration between APD and ICE.

Call to Action

The organizations are urging the community to take action, such as contacting elected officials to demand an end to these raids, and advocating for a fair relocation process for residents of The Edge at Lowry. “We must reject fear and choose compassion and unity,” concluded Andrea Loya, director of Casa de Paz.