A recent op-ed in The Denver Post highlighted recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Colorado: “Opinion: I witnessed ICE’s militarized raid in Denver. It was cruelty unchecked.”
“This was not just enforcement; it was purposeful, targeted intimidation,” editorialized Juan Peña, a pastor at Providence Bible Church (PBC) in Denver.
The “raids” (we will get to that word shortly) in question were part of a multi-agency operation targeting over 100 Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members and other criminal aliens in the greater Denver region. Border Czar Tom Homan told Bill Melugin of Fox News that the goal for the operation was to send a message to TdA.
“We are going to eradicate them from this county,” stated Homan.
This is the same operation that was delayed a week due to intel leaks.
Melugin reported that local media and activists were on the scene: “It certainly felt like everybody knew this was coming, including the targets and the local media.”
Pastor Peña claimed many “newcomer” families the church has “welcomed and supported” live in the complex where ICE officials were conducting enforcement activities.
“The sprawling apartment complex, home to dozens of immigrant families from Venezuela, Colombia, Haiti, and Central America were on lockdown,” he wrote.
These residential buildings are similar to the ones that TdA took over while terrorizing the local inhabitants (which are also in the Denver area). Several of these ‘migrants’ who live in the complex attend PBC, according to Peña.
“This was not a response to an active shooter. There was no dangerous fugitive. Law enforcement wasn’t chasing criminals or protecting the public,” continued Peña.
He described the scene as “militarized,” and said the only purpose for this approach was to scare local inhabitants.
“As an American, my heart is broken. Our country was built on the promise of justice and liberty for all, yet this week, that promise was shattered,” he stated.
The pastor also quoted Bible passages. His church advertises on their Instagram page, “Refugees Welcome.”
“We must ensure that no child has to wake up to the sound of a federal official banging on their door ever again,” he dramatically concluded.
Several months before President Donald Trump took office, I predicted the deluge of negative media coverage that would follow any deportations. We have already seen multiple outlets report that ‘immigrant communities’ are afraid of ICE activities. Large, anti-enforcement protests are being organized throughout the U.S.
This is expected, and we at Border Hawk have worked diligently to bring you authentic coverage of the immigration disaster that has taken place in the last few years.
The flood of emotional, slanted, factually incorrect articles and op-eds is only the beginning. I expect to see many more wishy-washy pieces like the one Mr. Peña has written. Large media outlets will continue to promote these emotional narratives and misleading stories, while disregarding federal immigration laws.
Remember, the ‘border was closed,’ right? Remember, there really wasn’t a TdA takeover of apartment complexes in Aurora, right? Remember, ICE officials stormed a school in Chicago, right?
I want something to be crystal clear: ICE hasn’t conducted raids. I repeat, ICE hasn’t conducted raids.
By definition, a raid is a planned, sudden entry into a property. All of ICE’s operations are targeted enforcement activities.
“Raid” also infers a random search of a building. Officers do make collateral apprehensions, but those are not at random.
Maryland ICE Field Office Director Matthew Elliston told NBC Washington, “ICE only does targeted enforcement operations. We do not do raids. We don’t do not do dragnets. We do not do sweeps. That is not something ICE has ever done.”
Pastor Peña paints a picture of a militaristic, federal enforcement group scaring residents and not “protecting the public.” This is categorically false.
Imagine, you live in an apartment complex and you discover that members of a transnational organization known for murders, extortion, kidnappings, trafficking, and torture are your neighbors. Wouldn’t you greatly prefer that these criminals be removed from the area in which you live?
“Cruelty unchecked,” Peña claimed. Again, utterly ridiculous.
Federal agents conducting targeted arrests of violent gang members is “cruel”?
You decide what is cruel.
Jocelyn Nungaray’s life was cut short when a pair of Venezuelan illegals lured her under a bridge and ruthlessly assaulted her for two hours before killing her. She was 12 years old.
These alleged killers were, rightly, charged with capital murder, and both were believed to be TdA members.
As for Peña’s piece – it is getting ratioed into oblivion on social media, as the public’s perception of these stories is shifting.
The legacy media will continue to push narratives that ignore the concerns and welfare of American citizens, and do-gooder, meddling pastors will continue to falsely use ‘Biblical principles’ to garner more public approval of their positions.
Warping facts, using incorrect verbiage, and deceitful misuse of the Christian Bible is only the beginning of the propaganda push.