Federal agents have left behind a gruesome legacy in the form of "death cards," customized playing cards adorned with symbols of violence and intimidation. In a series of recent immigration raids, federal authorities have been using these cards to target Latino workers, leaving them with a stark reminder of their power.
The use of these cards is not new, however. During the Vietnam War, U.S. troops would often leave "death cards" on the bodies of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians, featuring the iconic ace of spades symbol. This practice was meant to convey a sense of American superiority and to instill fear in those who opposed them.
Fast forward to today, and we see a similar pattern emerging in the U.S. The use of customized playing cards with symbols of violence has been reported in several states, including Colorado, where two separate families found identical "death cards" left behind by ICE agents during raids on their vehicles. These cards feature an ace of spades symbol, along with the address and phone number of the nearest ICE detention facility.
The implications are clear: these cards are being used as a form of intimidation, designed to instill fear in those who are already vulnerable. "We are disgusted by ICE's actions in Eagle County," said Alex Sánchez, president and CEO of Voces Unidas, an immigrant rights group that has been tracking the use of these cards. "Leaving a racist death card behind after targeting Latino workers is an act of intimidation. This is not about public safety. It is about fear and control."
The use of these cards is a disturbing reminder of the long history of violence and intimidation perpetrated against marginalized communities in the U.S. From the Vietnam War to the present day, it has become clear that certain groups are more vulnerable to abuse by those in power.
As The Intercept notes, "the ace card has a long and macabre history" and is often associated with death and violence. It's no surprise, then, that these cards have been left behind in immigration raids, serving as a grim reminder of the consequences faced by those who dare to resist.
In response to this disturbing trend, lawmakers are calling for greater accountability from ICE agents and the Department of Homeland Security. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) recently took to the Senate floor to denounce the use of these cards, labeling them "intimidation" tactics used by ICE.
The Intercept is committed to holding those in power accountable for their actions. We will continue to track and report on this disturbing trend, working to bring attention to the importance of press freedom and democracy in the face of authoritarianism.
The use of these cards is not new, however. During the Vietnam War, U.S. troops would often leave "death cards" on the bodies of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians, featuring the iconic ace of spades symbol. This practice was meant to convey a sense of American superiority and to instill fear in those who opposed them.
Fast forward to today, and we see a similar pattern emerging in the U.S. The use of customized playing cards with symbols of violence has been reported in several states, including Colorado, where two separate families found identical "death cards" left behind by ICE agents during raids on their vehicles. These cards feature an ace of spades symbol, along with the address and phone number of the nearest ICE detention facility.
The implications are clear: these cards are being used as a form of intimidation, designed to instill fear in those who are already vulnerable. "We are disgusted by ICE's actions in Eagle County," said Alex Sánchez, president and CEO of Voces Unidas, an immigrant rights group that has been tracking the use of these cards. "Leaving a racist death card behind after targeting Latino workers is an act of intimidation. This is not about public safety. It is about fear and control."
The use of these cards is a disturbing reminder of the long history of violence and intimidation perpetrated against marginalized communities in the U.S. From the Vietnam War to the present day, it has become clear that certain groups are more vulnerable to abuse by those in power.
As The Intercept notes, "the ace card has a long and macabre history" and is often associated with death and violence. It's no surprise, then, that these cards have been left behind in immigration raids, serving as a grim reminder of the consequences faced by those who dare to resist.
In response to this disturbing trend, lawmakers are calling for greater accountability from ICE agents and the Department of Homeland Security. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) recently took to the Senate floor to denounce the use of these cards, labeling them "intimidation" tactics used by ICE.
The Intercept is committed to holding those in power accountable for their actions. We will continue to track and report on this disturbing trend, working to bring attention to the importance of press freedom and democracy in the face of authoritarianism.
This is soooo not okay! 
Those "death cards" left behind by ICE agents are like straight out of a horror movie 
. I mean, who needs that kind of intimidation tactics? It's just plain creepy and it's got to stop ASAP! The history of using the ace of spades symbol for violence is already super dark and this just takes it to another level 
. And the fact that lawmakers are already calling for greater accountability is a good start 
, but we need more than just words, we need real change! 
. We need more journalists like them who aren't afraid to speak truth to power 
. Let's keep the pressure on until these cards stop being used as a tool of intimidation! 
, like something out of a bad movie. I mean, who uses intimidation tactics like this in 2025? It's like we've gone back to some kinda dark past 
. Reminds me of the whole Vietnam War thing, where our troops used to leave those "death cards" on Vietnamese bodies... same vibe, different players 
.
. Those Latino workers already feeling vulnerable enough, then BAM! They get these customized playing cards with symbols of violence and intimidation 
. It's like, come on, guys, we've got better things to do than play psychological games 
.
. We need some real change, not just empty words from lawmakers 
. The Intercept is doing a great job keeping us informed, but at the end of the day, it's up to us to demand justice and stand up against these kinds of tactics 
.
these "death cards" are straight outta some horror movie, u no? like, what kinda sick ppl think it's cool 2 use intimidation tactics 2 control people, especially when they're already scared & vulnerable 
immigration raids r bad enough w/o having these cards thrown in 4 good measure 
they're just using intimidation to control people and it's so not cool... 
the fact that they're copying the Vietnam War vibe is even more disturbing - it's like we haven't learned from our past mistakes at all. 
i'm so tired of seeing these kinds of tactics used to silence and control marginalized communities... 
these death cards are straight outta a bad horror movie - like what's next? showin' up at ppl's homes with a pair of handcuffs & a warrant for no reason at all?
The fact that these "death cards" are being left behind like some kind of twisted game trophy is just mind-blowing 
.
. We need to see a lot more than just outrage from lawmakers and activists before we start making any serious changes 
. What are the concrete actions being taken to hold ICE agents accountable? What kind of investigations are being launched to get to the bottom of this? Until I see some real progress, these "death cards" are just going to keep on being a disturbing reminder of our country's ongoing problems with systemic racism and oppression 
we need to call out these ICE agents for what they're doing and hold them accountable.
This is getting outta hand... just saw a graph showing the increase in hate crimes against Latinos since 2016 
. ICE's use of "death cards" is not only disgusting, but also clearly a form of psychological warfare 
It's like they're trying to recreate a similar atmosphere of fear and control.
. Meanwhile, the number of immigrants being deported without due process has increased by 25% since 2017