BY MEGAN SCHRADER
MSCHRADER@DENVERPOST.COM / @MEGANSCHRADER

This week rumors circulated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers had left Ace of Spade cards with the address and phone number of the Denver ICE Field Office. I dismised it as false until I saw a photo posted by Voces Unidas. Then reporting revealed that ICE officials were not denying the cards had been left behind in the vehicles of people in Eagle County who were detained by ICE this week.

The Ace of Spades, sometimes called the Death Card, was used during the Vietnam War by American soldiers who would drop the card on the bodies of their enemies as a warning to others. The Vail Daily reported that ICE Denver public affairs officials said they are investigating the situation and condemn that type of officer conduct.

"Once notified, ICE supervisors acted swiftly to address the issue," the written response said.

That's a refreshing change from the utter lack of a response to the serious and deadly ICE agent misconduct ongoing in Minnesota.

However, the Ace of Spade cards tell me what I already suspected, the Department of Homeland Security has a major problem with the culture of its agents. What would posess a man or woman entrusted with enforcing America's federal immigration laws to leave behind harassing and threatening cards in the cars of people they had apprehended? The answer is malice and disdain. The intent was to terrorize the families and friends of those detained, and that is not an isolated incident that can quickly be resolved.

DHS needs to step back and make sure ICE agents understand the people they are detaining are humans with family and friends, and that many of those being detained do not have any type of a criminal record other than questionable or pending legal immigration status.

Want to sound off on a topic? Tap here to submit a letter to the editor or email your letter to openforum@denverpost.com.

Want to reach out? Email me or find me on X. While you're at it, follow The Denver Post Opinion Page on X. Forward this to a friend so they, too, can subscribe to the newsletter, too.