Unfounded Venezuelan gang rumors spill into national immigration debate
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Exaggerated claims over gang activity in Aurora are turning the city into the latest flashpoint in the national immigration debate.
Why it matters: Republicans — including former President Trump — are perpetuating misinformation that gangs are overrunning apartment complexes in Aurora, which local police and residents deny.
Catch up quick: Aurora police say at least 10 people linked to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang known for human smuggling and money laundering, are operating in Aurora.
- At least six members are in custody, per the city of Aurora. Two of those six people are connected to a shooting in July.
The big picture: Residents in at least one Aurora apartment complex targeted by the false claims say the rumors pose a safety risk because they fear others will mistakenly target them.
What they're saying: "You look at Aurora in Colorado, [migrants] are taking over the town, taking over buildings ... they're destroying our country," Trump said during Tuesday night's presidential debate, parroting the false claim.
- The claims were echoed Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert on X, who last week hosted a roundtable to learn more about the situation.
- The unfounded claims suggesting the gang has overtaken apartment complexes have been shared widely by Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky, a Republican.
The other side: U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat who represents Aurora, in a statement on X last Saturday called on people who are "distorting" the gang issue to stop, adding federal law enforcement says the issue is being "misrepresented."
- "Misrepresentations about crime only make it harder for law enforcement to do their job and harder for the residents impacted by squalid conditions to find suitable housing."
The intrigue: Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman has added to the confusion with contradictory statements.
- The Republican told Fox News last month that buildings had "fallen" to gangs, but backtracked last Friday, saying he agreed with police that gangs weren't in control of apartment buildings.
What's next: The city of Aurora is threatening to shut down two complexes, saying if the property owner does not provide routine services such as trash removal, closure will be last resort, the Denver Gazette reports.