A vicious gang originating in the prisons of Venezuela has emigrated to the United States and is causing trouble in Aurora, Colorado. Video widely shared on social media purportedly shows members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang brandishing firearms as they meander through the hallways of an Aurora apartment complex.

TdA in Aurora

Citing several code violations, the city of Aurora has moved to close the complex, located at 1568 Nome St., near Colfax and Peoria. CBZ Management, which operates several apartment complexes in the area in addition to The Edge in Aurora, complains that they can’t get any maintenance done because of the TdA takeover.

In July, the Biden administration labeled TdA a “transnational criminal organization.” They claimed it was involved in “violent criminal acts,” including human smuggling and trafficking, gender-based violence, money laundering, and illicit drug trafficking. The Aurora police said in a statement that they believe TdA’s influence in Aurora is “isolated”:

We are aware that components of TdA are operating in Aurora. [The Aurora Police Department] has been increasingly collecting evidence to show the gang is connected to crimes in the area…. Based on our initial investigative work, we believe reports of TdA influence in Aurora are isolated.

Residents Living in a “Nightmare”

But it doesn’t seem so isolated to residents who must deal with it. Cindy Romero, a resident of The Edge, told KDVR, “It’s been a nightmare and I can’t wait to get out of here.”

Romero, and her husband, Edward, had to use five locks on their door in the apartment and a door security bar jammer.

“Every day when we come home, we have to do this every time we go outside to take out the garbage,” she said. “Every time we go to bed at night. We have to keep like this so that nobody can kick in the door.”

The couple’s vehicle was caught in the crossfire of a shootout at the building and riddled with bullets.

They were finally able to move out with assistance from Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky. Jurinsky told KDVR:

The city nonprofits have lined up to help the migrants that have come here but nobody is helping the Americans that are trapped in these apartment complexes. [And] this isn’t just Americans [being targeted]. Other Venezuelans are being extorted by this gang.

Denver a Sanctuary City

Aurora is not a sanctuary city, but nearby Denver is. In fact, Denver has taken in 40,000 new immigrants since 2022 — the largest number per capita of any American municipality.

Jurinsky told the New York Post:

To our governor and to the mayor of Denver, I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to play the game of politics with you regarding this migrant crisis. And I will continue to speak up and speak out and help as many people as I can. …

I worry about everything that I know regarding this gang. And I worry about everything that I don’t know.

Denver police are aware of TdA’s presence in the area, but claim they haven’t “taken over” any Denver apartment complexes. According to a statement:

The Denver Police Department [DPD] takes the presence of Tren de Aragua seriously, and protecting the safety of our residents and our officers is always our top priority. There are reasons to believe that members of this gang are tied to crimes in the area. However, DPD is not aware of any apartment buildings being “taken over” by this gang in Denver.

TdA leadership has apparently “given [members] a green light to fire [on] or attack law enforcement,” according to a memo circulated in the law enforcement community by the Homeland Security Investigations office.

A Crisis for Americans

The presence of “sanctuary cities” has led to this hostile takeover attempt of Aurora by a violent transnational gang. The warning signs were all there. Yet the attempt to shield illegal immigrants from fear of deportation has created a crisis for Americans.