In a stunning display of denial, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has brushed off growing concerns about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua seizing control of apartment buildings in the Denver suburb of Aurora. Despite clear evidence, including video footage, police reports, and confirmation from Aurora’s mayor, Polis’ office dismissed the issue as mere “imagination.”
The controversy erupted after Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky linked the gang’s bold takeover of properties to the governor’s permissive policies. Polis’ spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, responded with a snarky statement, downplaying the severity of the situation. “The Governor has already let the Mayor know that the State is ready to support the local police department with assistance from state troopers and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation if needed,” Wieman said, adding that the so-called invasion was largely a figment of Jurinsky’s imagination.
Wieman’s dismissive tone struck a chord, particularly when she added, “It’s illegal to take over buildings in Colorado,” as if the law alone could deter criminals emboldened by lax enforcement. She further claimed that violent crime had dropped in Aurora between 2022 and 2023, a statement that seems increasingly out of touch with the reality on the ground.
Contrary to the governor’s narrative, evidence of the gang’s presence in Aurora is overwhelming. Surveillance footage aired by Fox Denver showed a group of armed men, later confirmed as suspected members of Tren de Aragua, brazenly walking through an apartment complex. The men were seen carrying handguns and a rifle as they broke into a unit, leading to a shootout that left one person severely injured.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman corroborated the seriousness of the situation, stating that “several buildings” in his city have “fallen to these Venezuelan gangs.” Coffman believes that these buildings, initially used as taxpayer-funded migrant housing, provided a foothold for the gangs to establish their control. The governor’s office, however, continues to downplay the gravity of the situation, despite the clear threat posed to residents.
Denver, a self-declared sanctuary city just west of Aurora, has seen an influx of over 40,000 migrants since December 2022, many from Venezuela. While Denver’s sanctuary policies may have been well-intentioned, they have inadvertently created a breeding ground for criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua to take root.
The Post confronted Polis’ office with the mounting evidence, but the response was dismissive. Wieman suggested that city council members should stop “trashing their own city” and focus on keeping it safe. Yet, this statement rings hollow when considering the lived experiences of Aurora residents, who are now living in fear of gang violence.
One such resident, Cindy Romero, expressed her frustration and fear as she prepared to move out of her gang-infested apartment. “It’s been a nightmare, and I can’t wait to get out of here,” she told Fox Denver.
Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuela’s Aragua region, has been expanding its influence across the U.S., particularly in cities like New York, Denver, and Chicago. The gang’s designation as a transnational criminal organization by the Biden administration underscores the seriousness of the threat, yet Colorado’s leadership seems content to ignore the problem.
Governor Polis has embraced sanctuary policies that have only exacerbated the issue, making it easier for migrants, including potential gang members, to settle in Colorado. As a result, communities like Aurora are now grappling with the fallout of these well-meaning but dangerously naive policies.
While Polis continues to downplay the threat, the residents of Aurora are left to fend for themselves, caught in the crossfire of a crisis that their governor refuses to acknowledge.
