Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky has published documents verifying that the local police knew about the Tren De Aragua gang’s takeover of local apartment buildings over a year ago. The documents, shared on her personal X profile, contain emails from within the Aurora Police Department discussing extensive gang activities in the area. Jurinsky expressed frustration with the city’s response to the issue, describing it as a cover-up, and emphasized the impact on migrants seeking a better life away from gangs like Tren de Aragua. She noted that the gang is still in control of the apartment buildings, citing a document from October of last year from the Aurora PD’s Gang Intervention Unit that identified 15-20 members of TdA operating in Denver and Aurora.
The Department of Homeland Security recently recommended that more than 100 migrants believed to be affiliated with Tren de Aragua be placed on an FBI watchlist. NBC News reported that DHS identified over 600 individuals with possible ties to the gang, with 100 considered “subjects of interest.” The gang, which originated in a Venezuelan prison, has expanded to several countries, including the U.S. The identities of these individuals were discovered as part of an ongoing re-screening operation to address the gang’s presence. This development adds to concerns about the influence of Tren de Aragua in the U.S.
Jurinsky’s release of the documents coincided with growing fears over the bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang’s activities in the U.S. The gang’s plans to establish a headquarters in Aurora were revealed in a document from the Aurora PD’s Gang Intervention Unit last year. The addresses of two apartment buildings, The Edge at Lowry and the Fitzsimons Place Apartments, were listed in the document as central to the controversy surrounding Tren de Aragua. Jurinsky emphasized that the gang remains a significant threat in the area, pointing to the information contained in the documents as evidence of the urgent need to address the issue.
The Aurora City Council member highlighted the impact of Tren de Aragua’s presence on the local community, especially migrant populations seeking refuge from gang violence. She criticized the city’s response, accusing officials of lying and called out the Aurora police for failing to effectively address the gang’s activities. Jurinsky’s revelations shed light on a significant security concern within the community, as the gang’s influence raises fears of extortion, torture, and violence against vulnerable migrant populations. The involvement of federal agencies like DHS in recommending increased monitoring of individuals linked to Tren de Aragua underscores the seriousness of the situation.
The ongoing scrutiny of Tren de Aragua’s activities reflects the challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations and their impact on communities across borders. The gang’s expansion into various countries, including the U.S., underscores the need for coordinated efforts to address the threat they pose. DHS’s efforts to identify and monitor individuals associated with Tren de Aragua signal a proactive approach to mitigating the gang’s influence. Jurinsky’s advocacy for greater awareness of the gang’s activities and the implications for vulnerable communities underscores the importance of addressing transnational criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua to ensure the safety and security of residents in affected areas. The revelations by the Aurora City Council member serve as a call to action for local, state, and federal authorities to collaborate in addressing the challenges posed by gangs like Tren de Aragua.
