Former President Donald Trump visited Aurora, Colorado, ahead of the November election, as he continues to focus on the issue of illegal immigration. Trump has made immigration a central theme of his political persona and has promised to conduct the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. He has been using dehumanizing language and spreading false or misleading claims about migrants, painting them as causing chaos in smaller American cities and towns. Trump’s rally in Aurora marked the first visit by either presidential campaign to Colorado, a state that typically votes Democratic.
In recent months, Trump has singled out specific communities like Aurora that have experienced an influx of migrants. Tensions have arisen locally over resources and demographic changes, with some longtime residents expressing distrust. Despite authorities denying Trump’s claims, he continued to paint a picture of apartment complexes overrun by criminals and streets unsafe to travel, blaming the current administration for these issues. Trump used dehumanizing language, referring to migrants as “animals” and his political rivals as “scum,” while calling for harsh penalties, including the death penalty, for migrants who kill American citizens or law enforcement officers.
During his visit to Aurora, Trump announced plans to launch “Operation Aurora” to focus on deporting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. He also pledged to use the Alien Enemies Act, a law from 1798, to deport noncitizens from countries the U.S. is at war with. Some Colorado officials, including the Republican mayor of Aurora, have accused Trump and other Republicans of inflating problems in the city. Trump has spread falsehoods about immigrant communities in other states as part of his immigration message, particularly targeting states that are competitive in the presidential race.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has also promoted Trump’s immigration plan, focusing on deportations and highlighting the impact of immigrants on smaller communities. Trump has vowed to deport Haitians legally living in Springfield, Ohio, as well as other groups he has criticized, such as “pro-Hamas radicals.” Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, has presented herself as tough on border security to address concerns about immigration. She has emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach to policy initiatives and criticized Trump’s handling of Iran and Israel during her campaign events.
Harris has highlighted her commitment to defending American interests from Iran and preventing the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. She criticized Trump for downplaying an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Iraq and emphasized the importance of diplomacy in international relations. Harris also participated in a White House briefing on hurricane recovery efforts and reassured those affected by the hurricanes that they would receive government assistance. As the election draws near, both Trump and Harris continue to focus on key issues like immigration, national security, and disaster recovery in their campaign messaging.
