ICE Director: Major Aurora Gang Operation Sabotaged by Leaks from Local Officials
Washington, D.C. – In a blistering testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons revealed that a high-stakes operation targeting members of the transnational Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Aurora, Colorado, was effectively neutralized after details were leaked to the public.
Lyons told lawmakers that federal agents had prepared to serve criminal warrants at an Aurora apartment complex known to be a stronghold for the gang. However, upon arrival, tactical teams found the location abandoned by the targets and instead occupied by protesters. According to Lyons, the operation’s failure was a direct result of ICE’s attempt to coordinate with local leadership.
“We tried to work with state and local government officials and notified them that the operation was ongoing,” Lyons testified. “So when tactical teams arrived, protesters were already there and the apartment complex was empty. We see that time and time again.”
Operational Intelligence Compromised
The testimony highlights the deepening rift between federal immigration enforcement and local “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Lyons cited the Aurora incident as a primary example of why ICE often hesitates to share operational details with local authorities. The operation was intended to dismantle a cell of Tren de Aragua, a violent criminal organization linked to a surge in crime across the Denver metro area, including reports of apartment takeovers that have garnered national attention.
Sources close to the agency indicate that the targets were high-priority individuals suspected of violent crimes and drug trafficking. The premature disclosure of the raid not only allowed these suspects to evade capture but, according to Lyons, placed federal agents in a volatile situation with demonstrators. “There is empirical evidence that we are impeded, our operations get leaked, and then we’re put out,” Lyons stated, expressing frustration with the lack of operational security when working with certain local governments.
Local Officials Push Back
The allegations have drawn sharp rebukes from Colorado officials, who have previously accused federal agencies of politicizing law enforcement activities in the state. Local leaders in Aurora and Denver have long disputed the “gang takeover” narrative, with some city officials characterizing the reports as exaggerated for political gain.
Critics of ICE’s stance argue that the agency uses such claims to justify aggressive tactics and that the presence of protesters is a result of community vigilance rather than official leaks. In previous statements, local police chiefs have emphasized that while gang elements exist, they do not control entire apartment complexes as often depicted in federal reports. Legal advocates have also raised concerns that such operations frequently sweep up non-criminal residents alongside suspects.
Escalating Tensions
The testimony comes amidst a broader federal crackdown on transnational crime organizations. Tren de Aragua has become a focal point for DHS, with the gang’s reach expanding into sex trafficking and retail theft rings across major U.S. cities.
Lyons warned that the inability to trust local partners with sensitive information forces ICE to conduct operations unilaterally, a strategy that often draws criticism for its lack of transparency. “We want to be good partners,” Lyons told the committee. “But how many times can we be Charlie Brown with a football?”
The failed Aurora raid is likely to intensify the debate over information-sharing protocols between federal agencies and sanctuary cities, with DHS signaling it may further restrict the notification of local authorities in future high-risk operations.
cbsnews.com
