Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accused a town in Colorado of being overrun by Venezuelan gang members, specifically a gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA). The Mayor of Aurora, Mike Coffman, stated that two apartment buildings were taken over by migrants, resulting in violence and uncertainty for residents. The Aurora police department set up a special task force to address concerns about the gang and other criminal activities linked to migrants in the area. The TdA originated as a prison gang in Venezuela before expanding and focusing on human trafficking and other criminal activities.
A video showing armed gang members breaking into an apartment unit in Aurora went viral, leading the city to seek a court order to clear the apartments by declaring them a “criminal nuisance”. The Tren de Aragua gang has been accused of smuggling women and girls for sexual exploitation and other criminal activities. The gang’s influence was believed to be isolated to the specific buildings in question, with the mayor attributing the situation to failed federal policies allowing criminals to enter the country. The Aurora police department stated that they were working with federal and state partners to address the gang’s activities in the area.
The mayor of Aurora and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump both blamed federal policies for allowing Tren de Aragua and other criminals to enter the country. The mayor expressed the need to shut down the buildings and prevent similar incidents in the future. The state of Colorado, led by Democratic Governor Jared Polis, was ready to back up any police operation to address the issue. The state maintained a zero-tolerance policy for illegal activities and was prepared to support the city of Aurora in enforcing the law. The Biden administration had previously sanctioned the TdA gang and offered a reward for information leading to the capture or conviction of its leaders.
Residents of the affected building reported that the real managers disappeared when the violence began, leaving the situation unaddressed. The city of Aurora was waiting for a municipal judge to issue a court order that would give back control to property owners, effectively shutting down the buildings to prevent further criminal activities. The police department was collecting evidence to show the gang’s connection to crimes in the area, and was working closely with federal and state agencies to address the issue. The DEA’s involvement in the investigation was confirmed, but the agency declined to provide further comments due to ongoing investigative work.
The Tren de Aragua gang, originally from Venezuela, has been operating in Aurora, Colorado, causing fear and insecurity among residents. The Aurora police department established a special task force to address the gang’s activities and other criminal concerns linked to migrants in the area. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman blamed federal policies for allowing criminals to enter the country and called for decisive action to deal with the situation. The state of Colorado, under Governor Jared Polis, offered support to Aurora in addressing the issue and enforcing the law. Efforts were being made to shut down the buildings overtaken by the gang and prevent similar incidents in the future.
