The Aurora Police Department emphasizes that its focus is on criminal behavior, not immigration status, in addressing the presence of the Tren de Aragua gang in the city.
During a press conference on Friday, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain addressed the presence of the Tren de Aragua gang in the city, stating that it is "not an immigration issue." The press conference was held after surveillance footage of a group of armed men in an apartment building garnered national attention last month.
Chief Chamberlain shared that three of the armed suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members in the video have been served arrest warrants for first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm. Three more from the video have not been identified. Aurora Police are still actively searching for Andersen Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, and Niefred Serpa-Acosta, 20. Naudi Lopez-Fernandez, 21, is in custody.
Tren de Aragua Gang Presence in Aurora: Not an Immigration Issue, Says Police Chief
Chief Chamberlain emphasized the challenges in verifying gang affiliation with suspected Tren de Aragua members. Tren de Aragua, a transnational prison gang based in Venezuela, has approximately 5,000 members.
"Many of these individuals that we are talking about come from a country that does not have strong relationships with the United States, a country that does not have a database that they are going to share or have shared," said Chamberlain. "So being able to identify these actual individuals as TdA gang members has been a struggle."
Tren de Aragua Gang Presence in Aurora: Not an Immigration Issue, Says Police Chief
Chief Chamberlain stressed that the Aurora PD's focus is on criminal behavior. Earlier this month, Aurora announced the arrest of 10 "documented" Tren de Aragua members. Charges from those arrests include child abuse, attempted first-degree murder, illegal discharge of a firearm, and others.
"The Aurora Police Department targets criminals based upon their actions and not on their immigration status," said Chamberlain. "Immigration status is enforced by federal laws, by federal issues."
Tren de Aragua Gang Presence in Aurora: Not an Immigration Issue, Says Police Chief
Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky insists that the city needs more help from the federal government to address the problem.
"Immigration is the job of the federal government, and that's why we need help," said Jurinsky in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital. "Our ICE detention facility will fill up, and then what? Venezuela doesn't just get to decide after clearing out their prisons that they're not going to take anyone back. The federal government needs to provide a plan," added Jurinsky.
Tren de Aragua Gang Presence in Aurora: Not an Immigration Issue, Says Police Chief
Fox News' Alicia Acuna asked Aurora PD Chief Todd Chamberlain about the popular narrative about gangs having "taken over" the city during the press conference on Friday.
"I can tell you right now, gangs are not in control of the city of Aurora," answered Chamberlain. "If you walk away with anything, that's what I will say. Are there gangs in the city of Aurora? Yes, there are. Are there gangs in most major cities throughout the United States? 100% there are."
Since the beginning of the Biden administration, there have been nearly 8 million encounters with illegal aliens at the southwest border, according to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
The Aurora Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
