Aurora, Colorado’s Tren De Aragua Gang Problem Known To Authorities For Over A Year [WATCH]

An Aurora City Council member has revealed documents indicating that local police were aware of the presence and activities of the “Tren De Aragua” gang in the city over a year ago.

Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky shared the documents, which include internal emails from the Aurora Police Department (APD), on her personal X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday and Thursday.

The documents discuss the extensive gang activity in the area, confirming that law enforcement had knowledge of the gang’s operations for some time.

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In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jurinsky expressed her frustration with the city and state officials for allegedly downplaying the seriousness of the issue.

“I am done. I am tired of the city lying. I am done with the governor who called the cops on me. I am done with the local media.

This is an issue of human suffering. Gang members are extorting and torturing other migrants who came here for a better life and to get away from gangs like this,” Jurinsky told Fox News.

She went on to say that the Tren De Aragua (TdA) gang is still in control of certain apartment buildings in Aurora, despite authorities being aware of their presence.

Jurinsky referred to a document from October 2022 from APD’s Gang Intervention Unit, which noted that at least 15-20 members of TdA were operating in Denver and Aurora at the time.

The document also indicated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had intelligence suggesting the gang planned to establish a headquarters in Aurora.

It listed two apartment buildings as central to the gang’s activities: The Edge at Lowry and Fitzsimons Place Apartments.

Jurinsky’s public release of the documents comes shortly after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommended placing over 100 migrants believed to be affiliated with the gang on an FBI watchlist.

Emails that went out to the entire @AuroraPD confirming that officers were advised to respond in numbers and with an armored vehicle to Whispering Pines. A report was made that “these guys” have over 200 people working for them. Still not a gang takeover over the complex? It’s… pic.twitter.com/VyOHiKsVZh

— Danielle Jurinsky (@DaniJurinsky) October 23, 2024

11/16/2023 Subject line: Tren de Aragua
ICE notifies the @AuroraPD that “TdA has decided to make Denver their headquarters due to sanctuary policies and location.” (Thank you @GovofCO) Did anyone reach out to the state? Did the Denver Mayor know this? Did Commander Chris Poppe… pic.twitter.com/Zc3ROB4zVz

— Danielle Jurinsky (@DaniJurinsky) October 24, 2024

NBC News reported that DHS had identified more than 600 individuals with possible ties to the Tren De Aragua, with 100 of them deemed “subjects of interest.”

The department recommended that these individuals be placed on the FBI’s Watchlist for Transnational Criminal Organizations.

The Tren De Aragua gang is believed to have originated in the Tocoron prison in the Venezuelan state of Aragua and has expanded into several countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

DHS has stated that the identification of individuals connected to the gang is part of an ongoing operation to re-screen migrants and address the gang’s presence in the U.S.

The revelations by Jurinsky raise concerns about local safety and the effectiveness of efforts to combat gang activity in the region.

She stated that officers on the front lines are frustrated and feel that their lives are at risk as they continue to deal with the gang’s presence in Aurora.

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