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 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.
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Sources
- CBS News
- Federal Agents Left Behind “Death Cards” After Capturing Immigrants
The Intercept·Feb 3, 2026·archived copy
- After DHS Silence, Hickenlooper Demands Meeting with ICE on “Death Cards” Incident | Senator John Hickenlooper
- Hickenlooper demands DHS meeting as ICE fails to respond in Eagle County ‘death card’ case
Vail Daily·Feb 21, 2026·archived copy
Show 8 more sources ↓Show fewer sources ↑
- Hickenlooper, Neguse, Bennet, DeGette, Crow, Pettersen Demand Answers as ICE “Death Cards” Investigation Raises Oversight Concerns | Senator John Hickenlooper
- Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen Condemn Racist “Death Cards,” Request Independent Investigation, Full Briefing | Senator John Hickenlooper
- Colorado lawmakers demand investigation of ICE ‘death cards’ left in detainees’ vehicles
Sky Hi News·Feb 5, 2026·archived copy
- Racist ace of spades cards left behind following ICE arrests in Eagle County, Colorado nonprofit says
Colorado Sun·Jan 23, 2026·archived copy
- Advocacy group finds ‘Ace of Spades’ playing cards in cars of people removed by ICE
The Independent·Jan 27, 2026·archived copy
- AOL
- ICE Investigating Use of Death Symbol Cards Left in Vehicles After Colorado Detentions
Rocky Mountain Voice·Jan 26, 2026·archived copy
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