ICE agents are reportedly patrolling Routt County this week, and similar operations are taking place elsewhere on Colorado’s Western Slope.
While ICE officials declined to confirm ongoing activity in Routt County due to concerns about “officer safety,” the local organization Integrated Community, which assists and supports immigrants, said agents had been seen in the county since last weekend.
Videos and photos shared on social media this week, including a firsthand account from County Commissioner Angelica Salinas on Wednesday in Oak Creek, bolstered the presence of federal agents.
In Summit County, the US Marshals Service confirmed that agents were assisting US Customs and Immigration Enforcement with an operation involving multiple federal agencies that began Thursday morning.
“(U.S. deputy marshals) are assisting immigration enforcement operations teams,” an employee of the Denver office, who declined to be identified, told Summit Daily News around 10 a.m. Photos and videos posted on social media on Thursday showed unmarked vehicles and people wearing masks detaining people in the Dillon Valley area.
The U.S. Marshals Service employee stated that U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement was the lead agency in the operation, but declined to provide additional information because the operation was “ongoing.” US Customs and Immigration Enforcement, or ICE, is the primary investigative arm of the US Department of Homeland Security.
According to Voces Unidas CEO Alex Sanchez, at least five people were detained on their way to a job site near Dillon on Thursday morning. They were stopped near the Super 8 hotel and the Shell gas station.
Sanchez stated that his organization consulted with several witnesses and a family member of someone who was detained to verify the information. Sanchez also stated that at least one person was detained in a separate incident around 7 a.m. at the Dillon Valley East Apartments.
Summit Daily News was unable to independently confirm the detentions.
A spokesperson for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who declined to be identified, told Summit Daily News that they would not “confirm, deny, or otherwise discuss ongoing or future operations” due to law enforcement safety concerns.
“US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is carrying out its mission of identifying and removing criminal aliens and others who have violated our country’s immigration laws,” said a spokesperson for the agency. “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, regardless of nationality.”
The agency stated that it will not provide any information on arrests unless “a name, DOB, and/or alien registration number” are provided.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Mike Schilling stated around 8:30 a.m. that the office had received no notification from U.S. Homeland Security or any federal immigration enforcement activity in Summit County on Thursday. Schilling stated at 10:20 a.m. that his office was still unaware of any immigration enforcement activity.
“Well holy s***, that’s news to us, and we’ve spent the entire morning trying to track this down just like you,” Schilling said in response to Summit Daily News, which shared the information it received from the US Marshals Service. “The norms of federal law enforcement appear to be changing on a daily basis right now. We still have not received confirmation from ICE on anything today.”
Schilling stated that the office received reports about the activity from the community in the morning. He stated that Homeland Security notified the Sheriff’s Office via the county dispatch service of its operations at Hacienda Real and a residence in Dillon Valley on September 16.
Dillon Police Chief Cale Osborn confirmed that his department was not involved in the operation, and Silverthorne Police Assistant Chief Eric Streep confirmed that Silverthorne officers were also not involved. He stated that Silverthorne officers are easily identifiable, and that his department received no notification from federal agencies prior to the incident.
ICE Denver Public Affairs responded to a Summit Daily News question about agency policies regarding public interaction.
“During all enforcement operations, all ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers and Homeland Security Investigations special agents have worn and will continue to wear badges and markings that are easily identifiable and indicate their authority as law enforcement officers.
If an ICE officer or agent chooses to wear a mask to avoid being doxxed and targeted by highly sophisticated gangs such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists, they are clearly identifying as law enforcement.
ICE is still committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting the public, and collaborating with any local official, regardless of policy stance, who prioritizes safety over symbolism. ICE does not have a face-covering policy. In general, each officer decides whether or not to wear a facemask.
