In the wake of viral videos showing armed individuals taking over an Aurora, Colorado, apartment complex, city officials have refuted claims of a gang takeover and announced the arrest of 10 members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua.
Aurora, Colorado, officials have released a joint statement refuting claims that the city is under a gang takeover and announcing the arrest of 10 members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua.
Aurora Officials Push Back Against Rumors of Gang Takeover, Announce Arrests and Task Force
The statement, released by Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, Council Member and Public Safety Chair Danielle Jurinsky, and with the "full endorsement" of the city manager and Aurora Police Department, aimed to address concerns raised by recent viral videos showing armed individuals taking over an apartment complex.
"For some time, well before concerns about TdA in Colorado generated national attention, APD had been arresting people for various criminal activities who had suspected, but not necessarily confirmed, TdA connections," the statement read. "To date, APD has now linked 10 people to TdA and has arrested eight of those people."
Aurora Officials Push Back Against Rumors of Gang Takeover, Announce Arrests and Task Force
The statement confirmed that criminal activity, including TdA issues, had significantly affected specific properties in the city. The 10 Tren de Aragua arrests are linked to "committing acts of violence against members of the migrant community," according to the Aurora Police Department. Tren de Aragua is a transnational prison gang based in Venezuela; many of its members in the United States are illegal aliens.
Of the 10 arrested, charges include child abuse, attempted first-degree murder, illegal discharge of a firearm, and more. All 10 are listed as "documented member of TdA." One of the arrest warrants dates back to November 2023 in connection with an assault at the Whispering Pines apartments in Aurora.
Aurora Officials Push Back Against Rumors of Gang Takeover, Announce Arrests and Task Force
The joint statement from Aurora officials also took aim at misleading social media claims and certain media organizations that have propagated fears of a gang takeover.
"As for the perception and reality of public safety in Aurora, please understand that issues experienced at a select few properties do not apply to the city as a whole or large portions of it," the statement said. "TdA has not ‘taken over’ the city. The overstated claims fueled by social media and through select news organizations are simply not true."
Aurora Officials Push Back Against Rumors of Gang Takeover, Announce Arrests and Task Force
Aurora officials have also established a joint task force to address the Tren de Aragua gang activity in the region, which includes Aurora PD and "other local, state, and federal partners."
The statement concluded, "we will continue to embrace our identity as the most diverse city in Colorado and remain steadfast in our commitment to arrest bad actors."
Governor Jared Polis signed HB19-1124 in 2019 making Colorado a sanctuary state, meaning it does not enforce immigration law or cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Despite this, Aurora officials have asserted their commitment to fighting crime and protecting the community.
A spokesperson for Governor Polis stated, "Colorado is a zero-tolerance state for illegal activity. The Governor and his public safety team have been in close contact with the mayor and the City of Aurora for weeks on this matter, and are active participants in the task force."
The arrests and task force are a step toward addressing the concerns raised by Aurora residents and ensuring the safety of the community. However, the ongoing debate over immigration and sanctuary state policies may continue to shape the response to the Tren de Aragua gang activity in Colorado.
