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ICE agents leave ace of spades cards during Colorado traffic stop detentions

Jan 31, 2026 · Eagle County, CO

ICE agents leave ace of spades cards during Colorado traffic stop detentions

On January 23, 2026, ICE agents conducted traffic stops in Eagle County, Colorado, detaining nine people. After the vehicles were abandoned, family members retrieved them and discovered ace of spades cards printed with ICE Denver Field Office contact information left inside at least two vehicles. Immigrant rights groups, including Voices Unidas, characterized the cards as referencing a Vietnam War-era racist practice. Federal officials offered an alternative explanation that the cards may reference the ace of spades as the trump card in the card game Spades. The Department of Homeland Security announced an investigation into the ICE agents' conduct.

Timeline

Jan 31, 2026DHS announced investigation into ICE agents' conduct; immigrant rights groups and federal officials offered competing explanations for the cards
Jan 23, 2026ICE agents conducted traffic stops in Eagle County, Colorado, detaining nine people; ace of spades cards with ICE contact information were found in abandoned vehicles

Sources

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