In a sobering twist of irony, Denver’s generous approach to immigration has brought more than just new neighbors to the nearby suburb of Aurora. The Mile-High City’s open-door policy has inadvertently opened the floodgates to violent crime, with the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua setting up a base in the once-quiet community.
Aurora, a peaceful suburb with a population of around 390,000, has suddenly found itself in the crosshairs of a brutal criminal enterprise. The Tren de Aragua gang, infamous for its violent activities in Venezuela, has taken control of several apartment complexes in Aurora, resulting in a dramatic surge in crime.
Denver’s reputation as the nation’s top destination for new migrants is no small feat, with over 40,000 asylum seekers arriving since December 2022. The city has gone to great lengths to accommodate this influx, even reallocating funds from emergency services to support its new residents. The cost of Denver’s migration policies is now estimated at over $68 million and counting.
Despite Aurora’s clear stance against becoming a sanctuary for migrants, the consequences of Denver’s policies have spilled over into its neighboring community. In February, the Aurora City Council passed a resolution explicitly refusing to extend resources or support to migrants arriving from Denver. “It’s been pretty tense here, we’re feeling it,” said city council member Danielle Jurinsky, who sponsored the resolution. “We will not be aiding into this migrant crisis.”
Yet, Aurora’s resolve has been tested as Tren de Aragua, a gang notorious for its violent tactics, has established a foothold in the suburb. The gang’s local operations have sparked a wave of violent incidents, including a recent attack at an Aurora apartment complex that resulted in multiple shootings and assaults.
Local gang leader Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirino, known as “Galleta” or “Cookie,” has emerged as a particularly alarming figure. Pacheco-Chirino, who crossed the southern border into Texas in 2022, was vetted by federal authorities and subsequently released into the U.S. Despite his initial claims of heading to New York, he made his way to Colorado, where his criminal activities began to unravel.
In a disturbing sequence of events, Pacheco-Chirino and his gang members allegedly orchestrated a brutal assault at the Fitzsimons Place apartment complex in Aurora in November 2023. The victim of this attack suffered severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and multiple facial fractures. Following the assault, the gang took over several vacant units, threatening residents and staff alike.
Pacheco-Chirino’s criminal spree continued with a shooting at the same apartment complex in July 2024, further escalating the situation. Despite his arrest and subsequent bail, Pacheco-Chirino failed to appear for his court date and continued his reign of terror until his final arrest in July 2024. Despite being ordered deported, his Venezuelan nationality complicates his removal from the U.S., leaving him in legal limbo.
This alarming rise in gang violence has prompted Aurora officials to take action. Earlier this month, the Aurora Police Department, in collaboration with the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, formed a task force to combat the growing threat posed by Tren de Aragua. “APD will not tolerate violent crime in our communities,” the department stated.
John Fabbricatore, former head of ICE’s Denver office and current congressional candidate, has criticized the slow response of local officials. “It’s become increasingly clear that certain city officials, including the Aurora Police Department, have downplayed or ignored the criminal activities affecting many neighborhoods in North Aurora,” Fabbricatore argued. He accused officials of minimizing the gang’s impact for ideological reasons, suggesting that illegal immigrant gang activities are more widespread than acknowledged.
Despite these concerns, Marc Sears, president of Aurora’s police union, disputes claims of a gang takeover. Sears asserts that Tren de Aragua’s presence is comparable to other documented gangs, though he acknowledges the heightened concern over threats against officers. “I feel that we have been green-lighted since 2020,” Sears said, referring to ongoing dangers faced by law enforcement.
The broader issue here is not just about the violence linked to Tren de Aragua but the underlying implications of Denver’s migration policies. As cities like Denver pursue ambitious sanctuary policies, neighboring communities like Aurora are left grappling with the fallout. Instead of addressing the root causes of these issues, such as overburdened emergency services and unregulated migrant inflows, the focus has shifted to managing the symptoms of a larger crisis.
Europe’s recent history of migration policies serves as a cautionary tale. Cities overwhelmed by unregulated migration face similar struggles, often resulting in social and economic strain. Aurora’s situation underscores the importance of a balanced approach to immigration—one that considers the capacity of neighboring communities and the potential for unintended consequences.
As Aurora continues to contend with the impacts of Denver’s migration policies, the need for effective and coordinated responses becomes increasingly evident. Addressing the root causes of these issues, rather than merely reacting to the symptoms, is crucial for ensuring the safety and stability of communities across the nation.
