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ICE leaves ace of spades cards in detained Colorado immigrants' cars

Up to 11 people were detained in Eagle County, Colorado, traffic stops; families later found ace of spades cards with ICE contact information left inside their abandoned vehicles.

Feb 1, 2026Eagle County, CO

ICE leaves ace of spades cards in detained Colorado immigrants' cars
Photo via Instagram

ICE agents conducted traffic stops in Eagle County, Colorado, detaining up to 11 people, according to Senator John Hickenlooper and other Colorado lawmakers. After the vehicles were abandoned, family members retrieved them and found ace of spades cards printed with ICE Denver Field Office contact information left inside at least two vehicles. Immigrant rights group Voices Unidas said the cards reference a Vietnam War-era racist practice, while federal officials offered an alternative explanation that the cards reference the ace of spades as the trump card in the game Spades. The Department of Homeland Security announced an internal investigation into the agents' conduct. Hickenlooper demanded a meeting with DHS after the agency failed to respond to requests for information about those detained and the status of the investigation.

Timeline

Feb 1, 2026—Senator Hickenlooper demands DHS meeting after agency fails to respond to requests for details on detainees and investigation status
Jan 31, 2026—Department of Homeland Security announces investigation into agents' conduct; immigrant rights groups and federal officials offer differing explanations for the cards
Jan 23, 2026—ICE agents conduct traffic stops in Eagle County, detaining nine people; family members later find ace of spades cards with ICE contact information in abandoned vehicles
Jan 21, 2026—ICE conducts enforcement action in Eagle County, Colorado, detaining immigrants, according to Colorado lawmakers
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