Federal agents have been leaving behind "death cards" after capturing immigrants in Colorado, sparking concerns about intimidation and racial violence. The customized playing cards, which include the address of an ICE field office, were found inside vehicles that had been stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who were posing as law enforcement.
The practice is reminiscent of a dark period in US history, when US troops regularly adorned Vietnamese corpses with "death cards" during the Vietnam War. These cards featured an ace of spades or a custom-printed business card claiming credit for the kill, and were often used to intimidate people of color.
Alex Sánchez, president and CEO of Voces Unidas, a local immigrant rights group, condemned ICE's actions as "disgusting" and described them as an act of intimidation. He said that leaving such cards behind after targeting Latino workers was not about public safety but rather about fear and control.
The use of the "death card" is also linked to a broader trend of authoritarianism under the Trump administration, with reports of court orders being ignored, MAGA loyalists in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies, and news outlets that challenge Trump's policies facing banishment or investigation.
As The Intercept continues to report on these issues, it relies on the support of its members. The organization is fighting back against the erosion of democracy but needs to expand its reporting capacity to effectively do so.
The practice is reminiscent of a dark period in US history, when US troops regularly adorned Vietnamese corpses with "death cards" during the Vietnam War. These cards featured an ace of spades or a custom-printed business card claiming credit for the kill, and were often used to intimidate people of color.
Alex Sánchez, president and CEO of Voces Unidas, a local immigrant rights group, condemned ICE's actions as "disgusting" and described them as an act of intimidation. He said that leaving such cards behind after targeting Latino workers was not about public safety but rather about fear and control.
The use of the "death card" is also linked to a broader trend of authoritarianism under the Trump administration, with reports of court orders being ignored, MAGA loyalists in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies, and news outlets that challenge Trump's policies facing banishment or investigation.
As The Intercept continues to report on these issues, it relies on the support of its members. The organization is fighting back against the erosion of democracy but needs to expand its reporting capacity to effectively do so.
seriously, what kind of stuff are we seeing in this country? leaving "death cards" after busting immigrants is just so messed up 
. it's like they're trying to send a message that says "you're gonna get caught and you're gonna be scared". can't believe the ppl who do these things think they're above the law 
. and what's with the connection to the trump admin? it feels like we're living in some kinda dystopian novel 
. need more reporters like The Intercept holding people in power accountable 
these ICE agents are literally carrying out a sick game of intimidation and fear-mongering theyre basically repping the worst parts of history, like that whole Vietnam War thing with those "death cards" it's just so messed up 
I'm definitely appalled by this news, but at the same time, I don't think we should jump straight to conclusions. I mean, it's possible that these "death cards" were just a misguided attempt at being intimidating and not necessarily meant to be taken seriously... or was it? 
The way they're being used is super concerning and it feels like a power play by the gov't to scare people into compliance. And let's be real, this whole thing does feel like a symptom of a bigger problem with the current state of politics. The idea that these cards are somehow reminiscent of Vietnam War-era atrocities... yikes. 
I get why Alex Sánchez is condemning this as an act of intimidation, but can we also acknowledge that maybe some of us should be having a more nuanced conversation about what's really going on here? 
everyone needs to speak up against this kind of behavior and support organizations like The Intercept that's fighting for the truth 
️
. We should be focusing on actually helping people immigrate legally and integrating them into society, not freaking out over a few playing cards.
We need to chill out about this stuff and focus on the real issues at hand.
This is getting outta hand! ICE should be all about deporting folks who broke the law, not playing games with 'em like this. It's super creepy and makes me wanna check my back over my shoulder every time I see an agent in uniform 
. And thinkin' about those "death cards" from Vietnam... that's just plain messed up 
. We need to stand up for our rights as immigrants, not let some administration push us around like we're nothin'. It's time to get real about what's goin' down in this country and hold people in power accountable 
!! i mean, who does that?! 
leaving death cards everywhere they go? it's like something outta a horror movie 
i can see why the latino community would be super scared and intimidated. but at the same time, i think we gotta keep things in perspective 
. like, yeah, this is wrong and all, but let's not jump to conclusions just yet 
. and hey, even if the trump admin is, like, super flawed 
, we can still work towards making things better 
. so, let's keep it positive vibes only 
!
. it's crazy to think that something like this can happen in a country built on freedom & justice, but i guess that's what happens when power corrupts, right? 
. and I wonder, what does this say about our society as a whole? are we becoming desensitized to these kinds of issues, or are we actually just becoming more aware of them because they're happening in plain sight? 
. It's like they're trying to send a message of fear and control, and it's disgusting. The fact that this is being linked to the Trump admin's authoritarian tendencies just makes me worried about where we're headed as a country 
. I get that they're trying to exert control, but is it really worth resorting to tactics like this? It just feeds into the fear and mistrust already around immigration issues.
. It's like they're playing on trust and trying to create an atmosphere of fear. The immigrant rights group Voces Unidas has every right to be upset about this... it's just disgusting 
.
. We need to hold our leaders accountable for this kind of behavior and demand better from them.
Or maybe ICE just wants to make itself look cool by being all edgy and stuff? 
Ugh, I'm so conflicted! 
.