Mike Coffman, the Republican mayor of Aurora, rejected former President Donald Trump's claims about Venezuelan-born gang Tren de Aragua having a widespread presence in the city ahead of his visit for a rally on Friday.
Trump said during the presidential debate in September that the gang had "overrun" apartment complexes in the city, a statement quickly disputed by local officials. In a recent Facebook post ahead of Trump's rally, Coffman criticized the former president for suggesting that Venezuelan migrants were responsible for increased crime.
"The concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated," Coffman said, according to a report by ABC News. He did not deny criminal incidents had taken place, but clarified they were confined to a few apartment complexes in Aurora, a city of over 400,000 residents.
Coffman also invited Trump to meet with local law enforcement to get accurate information on the city's security situation. "Former President Trump's visit to Aurora is an opportunity to show him and the nation that Aurora is a considerably safe city—not one overrun by Venezuelan gangs," he added.
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain recently echoed the claims, rejecting the connection with the arrival of Venezuelan migrants and emphasizing that the situation is a crime issue, not an immigration one.
Local law enforcement and a special task force have been addressing the gang's activity. Coffman and Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky, who also chairs Public Safety, released a statement detailing their investigation into Tren de Aragua.
The investigation found the gang's presence in Aurora was limited to specific properties. They revealed that the Aurora Police Department (APD) had linked 10 individuals to Tren de Aragua, with eight arrests made. Two of those arrested were involved in a shooting at one of the properties. The officials confirmed that TdA's criminal activities were largely confined to those locations.
The gang does have a wider presence in the country, with both the Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott having taken measures to address the issue. In July, the Biden administration sanctioned Tren de Aragua, placing it on a list of transnational criminal organizations alongside MS-13 and Italy's Camorra. The U.S. government has offered $12 million in rewards for information leading to the capture of three gang leaders.
Originally published on Latin Times.
