‘Simply not true’: Aurora leaders dispute claims Venezuelan gang has ‘taken over’ city

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — The city of Aurora is “setting the record straight” after Tuesday night’s presidential debate.

Former President Donald Trump said violent immigrants are taking over the city. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Council Member Danielle Jurinsky say there are problems, but they are being blown out of proportion.

Jurinsky said she appreciates all of the attention that has been given to the issue of a Tren de Aragua presence in Aurora, but the former president throwing out Aurora at the largest political event could make it seem like it’s the entire city dealing with gang problems. She said it certainly is not.

You look at Aurora, in Colorado,” Trump said at Tuesday night’s debate in response to a question about the country’s economic health. “They are taking over the towns. They are taking over buildings. They are going in violently.”

Trump’s words spurred a joint response from Aurora city leaders.

“Listen, if the entire city had been taken over, I would have left with my family,” Jurinsky said. “The entire city of Aurora has not been taken over.”

City officials: Gang issues isolated to 2 complexes

After videos of men with guns at an apartment complex went viral , Coffman and the police department have said these are “isolated incidents” at two buildings in a small corner of the city.

FOX31 asked Jurinsky, who has been vocal about the gang problems, what her message would be to people who feel as if she is “backpedaling” on previous statements she has made about the issue.

“That doesn’t exist. I have never said that,” Jurinsky said. “I have always been very specific about certain apartment complexes. It’s unfortunate, because what happened is certain media outlets put that out. “

She said she believes things could have been handled differently.

“I think what could have been done differently was for folks to put their political agendas aside and to just maybe listen to what I’m saying,” she said. “I physically went into one of these buildings and moved residents out. I was elected to be the voice of these people, Aurorans, and so that was the capacity I was acting in.”

Aurora police identify 10 Tren de Aragua members

A joint statement says Aurora police have been arresting people for various criminal activities who had suspected but not necessarily confirmed activity with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

To date, police say they have now linked 10 people to TdA and have arrested eight of those people, two of whom were taken into custody in connection to a July shooting at one of the specific properties that have experienced issues with TdA activity.

In line with these arrests, city leaders are now confirming that issues with criminal activity had significantly affected those properties.

“I think there has been a lot of hard conversations that had to happen over the past couple of weeks. There’s a lot of irrefutable proof, and I think this is a hard thing to come out to admit that you’re having a problem within your city,” Jurinsky said.

Jurinsky: ‘This is not just an Aurora issue’

Other prominent Republicans including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert have claimed gangs are taking over. She said in a statement: “The bottom line is illegal Venezuelan gangs are terrorizing Coloradans at apartment complexes and around different communities. President Trump correctly identified the problem, and I’m glad it was a focus in last night’s presidential debate.”

Meanwhile, Jurinsky wants to reassure people in Aurora that the people causing terror are but a small fraction of those who are coming across the U.S. southern border.

“Small in numbers but mighty in force, and we are seeing that, the police are seeing that, the people are seeing that,” Jurinsky said. “This is not just an Aurora issue. This is absolutely nationwide. We’re seeing more and more cities coming out daily with reports of Tren de Aragua in their cities. I hope Aurora trailblazed his entire situation and sheds light onto the problem and exposes the Tren de Aragua gang, and that now federal partners will step in and help.”

The statement said recent arrests have been made in Denver and Arapahoe County.

For this reason, a special task force was established with Aurora and other local state and federal partners to address concerns about TdA and other criminal activities affecting the community.

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