Federal agents left behind "death cards" after capturing immigrants in a disturbing incident that has raised questions about the use of intimidation and coercion by law enforcement agencies.
In Eagle County, Colorado, two families had their vehicles stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during what they described as "fake traffic stops." Upon searching the cars, family members found customized playing cards bearing an image of an ace of spades and the words "ICE Denver Field Office" printed on them. The cards were left in the vehicles after the occupants had been taken away.
Voces Unidas, an immigrant rights group, described the actions as "an act of intimidation" and said they are rooted in a long history of racial violence. The organization's president, Alex Sánchez, noted that the use of such tactics is not about public safety but rather about creating fear and control.
The use of playing cards with death messages dates back to the Vietnam War, where U.S. troops would adorn Vietnamese corpses with similar cards as a grim reminder of their presence. Similarly, in 1931, a Mafia boss was photographed clutching an ace of spades before his murder.
In recent years, there have been reports of Border Patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers wearing patches and pins that reference hate symbols and ideologies, including the use of playing cards with death messages. The Intercept reported on several instances of such behavior, highlighting a growing trend of extremist ideologies within some law enforcement agencies.
The incident in Eagle County has raised concerns about the tactics used by ICE agents and the impact it may have on immigrant communities. Voces Unidas is urging federal officials to investigate these incidents thoroughly and take action against those responsible for using intimidation and coercion as a means of enforcing immigration policies.
In Eagle County, Colorado, two families had their vehicles stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during what they described as "fake traffic stops." Upon searching the cars, family members found customized playing cards bearing an image of an ace of spades and the words "ICE Denver Field Office" printed on them. The cards were left in the vehicles after the occupants had been taken away.
Voces Unidas, an immigrant rights group, described the actions as "an act of intimidation" and said they are rooted in a long history of racial violence. The organization's president, Alex Sánchez, noted that the use of such tactics is not about public safety but rather about creating fear and control.
The use of playing cards with death messages dates back to the Vietnam War, where U.S. troops would adorn Vietnamese corpses with similar cards as a grim reminder of their presence. Similarly, in 1931, a Mafia boss was photographed clutching an ace of spades before his murder.
In recent years, there have been reports of Border Patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers wearing patches and pins that reference hate symbols and ideologies, including the use of playing cards with death messages. The Intercept reported on several instances of such behavior, highlighting a growing trend of extremist ideologies within some law enforcement agencies.
The incident in Eagle County has raised concerns about the tactics used by ICE agents and the impact it may have on immigrant communities. Voces Unidas is urging federal officials to investigate these incidents thoroughly and take action against those responsible for using intimidation and coercion as a means of enforcing immigration policies.
! What's with the "death cards" though? Like, who comes up with this stuff? It's super creepy & intimidating 
... it's not like they're trying to solve crimes or anything, just messing around with people's lives. And those patches and pins on their uniforms? That's just plain disturbing 
... like, can't they see how it affects the ppl they're supposed to be helping?
... they're already in a super tough spot, dealing with deportation & stuff. Do we really need this kind of stress? 
I mean, what's next? Will they start wearing little concentration camp uniforms or something? 
That's just not okay.
... ICE needs to get its act together & stop this kinda stuff ASAP!
It's like something straight outta the 80s. Who do they think they are, right? 
I mean, I know we're talking about some serious stuff here, but come on, using intimidation tactics to control people isn't cool. 
They need to get a grip and focus on actual public safety instead of scaring the crap outta innocent people.
I'm so worried about these families and their kids...they need to do something, you know?
i dont get why ppl think thats an effective way to deal with immigration issues... its all about power and control, not about helping ppl 
ICE agents need 2 take responsibility 4 their actions & stop using tactics dat harm innocent people 
. As a parent, it's hard to imagine what our kids would think if they saw that. They'd be totally freaked out and scared for their family members' safety 
. And honestly, it's not just the families that are affected, but also the communities as a whole. I mean we already know there's enough hate going around, do we really need law enforcement to perpetuate it? 
It's like, come on, can't they just focus on keeping us safe instead of scaring people half to death 
. and it's crazy how something so old-school like playing cards can still be used as a tool for fear-mongering... does anyone know what kinda training these agents have gone through that would lead them to use such tactics? 
. Law enforcement should focus on building trust, not spreading fear 
. We need better than this 
I cant even... those "death cards" are literally the most messed up thing I've seen in a long time, they re all about spreadin fear & control, not justice or protection. Like, what's next? 
No way, Jose! 
This is so messed up! I mean, what kind of sick game do ICE agents think they're playing by leaving out "death cards" in the cars of immigrants? It's not like it's some kind of prank or joke - these are people who could be deported at any moment and have their lives put on hold. The fact that it's a custom-made ace of spades with an ICE logo on it is just twisted. And let's get real, this is exactly what the problem is - using intimidation and coercion to enforce immigration policies. It's not about public safety, as Vox Unidas said, it's about creating fear and control. We should be talking about how to actually help these communities feel safe and protected, not resorting to these kind of tactics. 
... like, who leaves "death cards" in people's cars? It's not just the fact that it's an ace of spades with "ICE Denver Field Office" on it, it's the history behind it too... Vietnam War, Mafia bosses, all connected to hate and violence. And now, ICE agents are using these same tactics to intimidate immigrants? No thanks 
It's just such a blatant attempt to scare people and make them feel powerless.
. Playing cards with death messages? That's just messed up 
. It's like they're trying to scare people half to death 
.
That's just plain wrong 
.
. We need to find a way to do this without traumatizing people or making them feel like they're in a war zone 
. This is just plain unacceptable 
can you believe this? Like, what's next? Showing up at your doorstep with a "death card" just because you're not a U.S. citizen 
.