Violent gang members from Venezuelan prisons have emigrated to the United States and are causing trouble in Aurora, Colorado. A video widely shared on social media purportedly shows members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang roaming the hallways of an Aurora apartment building, brandishing guns.
Aurora TdA
The city of Aurora moved to shut down the complex, at 1568 Nome St. near Colfax and Peoria, citing several code violations. CBZ Management, which operates several apartment complexes in the area in addition to The Edge in Aurora, has complained that TdA's takeover has resulted in a total lack of maintenance.
In July, the Biden administration labeled TdA a “transnational criminal organization,” alleging the group is engaged in “violent criminal activity,” including human trafficking and smuggling, gender-based violence, money laundering and illegal drug trafficking. Aurora police said in a statement that they believe TdA's influence in Aurora is “isolated.”
We are aware that TdA organizations are active in Aurora, and (Aurora Police Department) is gathering more and more evidence indicating that this gang is connected to crime in the area… Based on our initial investigative work, we believe the reports of TdA influence in Aurora are isolated.
Residents living in a “nightmare”
But for the residents who have to deal with it, it's not an isolated issue. “It's a nightmare, and I just want to get out of here,” Edge resident Cindy Romero told KDVR.
Romero and her husband, Edward, had to use five locks and a door security bar jammer on their apartment door.
“I have to do this every day I come home and take out the trash,” she said. “And every time I go to bed at night. I have to do this so no one can kick the door down.”
The couple's car was caught in the crossfire of the gunfight inside the building and was riddled with bullet holes.
They were finally able to leave with the help of Aurora City Councilman Daniel Jurinski, who told KDVR:
“The city's nonprofits have stepped up to help the migrants who have come here, but no one is helping the Americans who are trapped in these apartments. (And) it's not just Americans. Other Venezuelans are being terrorized by these gangs.”
Denver is a holy city
Aurora is not a sanctuary city, but nearby Denver is, and in fact, it is set to admit 40,000 new immigrants starting in 2022, the most per capita of any U.S. municipality.
Jurinski told the New York Post:
To the Governor and Mayor of Denver, I refuse to be silent. I refuse to play political games with you on this immigration crisis, and I will continue to speak out and help as many people as I can.
I'm worried about everything I know about this gang, and I'm worried about everything I don't know.
Denver police are aware of TdA's presence in the area but claim they have never “occupied” any Denver apartments, according to a statement.
The Denver Police Department (DPD) takes the presence of Tren de Aragua seriously and ensuring the safety of our residents and officers is always our number one priority. There is some reason to believe members of this gang may be involved in crime in the area. However, DPD is not aware of any apartment buildings in Denver that have been “taken over” by this gang.
According to a memo circulated to law enforcement agencies by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, TdA leadership apparently “gave its members permission to shoot and attack law enforcement.”
A crisis for America
The existence of “sanctuary cities” led to an attempted hostile takeover of Aurora by violent international crime organizations. There were all sorts of warning signs, but the attempt to protect illegal immigrants from the fear of deportation created a crisis for the American people.
