City of Denver didn’t place migrants in troubled Aurora buildings

Aurora police visit with members of an apartment complex on Dallas Street in Aurora.Photo byMike Coffman

The Venezuelans living in Aurora apartment buildings facing condemnation were not put there by the city of Denver.

Denver city spokesman Jon Ewing said none of the residents are part of the Denver Asylum Seekers Program, or DASP. Amidst a flurry of media reports, some not substantiated, some have claimed the City and County of Denver placed the migrants in the Aurora buildings.

“None of the individuals staying in those complexes are part of DASP,” Ewing said. Denver officials have said in the past that some migrants in its program could be housed in other cities.

Also, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman confirmed to the author of this article that there is no indication that Hell’s Angels is coming to town. “No, not aware that they are coming,” he said.

Internet flooded with Aurora news

News consumers have been left to wade through massive amounts of content related to the situation in Aurora, from local to national news media, YouTubers and more. Some content has been false and has been removed.

Most all the reports on the Aurora gang issue have nuance, with some blaming “misinformation” on conservative politicians. The other side is accusing the “liberal media” of covering up the truth about Venezuelan gangs operating in the city.

Both mayors of Denver and Aurora have said they are aware the Venezuelan gangs are operating in their city. But they say there only have been isolated incidents of violence.

Mass gathering rattled nerves

Aurora hosted a gathering in a Target parking lot in July of 4,000 migrants watching Venezuelan election returns. Council member Danielle Jurinsky described a dangerous scene with Venezuelans firing guns into the air and wreaking havoc. Police the next day downplayed the incident, saying no one was injured.

The extent of Denver and Aurora’s Venezuelan gang problems remains the real question. Is it any worse, for example, than threats posed by gangs such as the Bloods and the Crips? This context would offer perspective. Police in both communities say they currently are investigating the gangs and gathering intelligence.

Coffman originally said an apartment building the city condemned at 1968 Nome St. did not contain gang members. He more recently has said they are present and told Fox News they are in control of some apartment buildings.