14 Arrested in Home Invasion, Reportedly Tied to Illegal Alien Venezuelan Gang [WATCH]
Violent activity tied to Venezuelan migrant gangs continues to escalate in Colorado, with authorities arresting 14 individuals this week following a home invasion in Aurora.
#APDAlert: Fourteen people have been detained by Aurora police after officers responded to a report of a home invasion with weapons at The Edge at Lowry Apartments.
Just before 2:30 a.m., Aurora police patrol officers responded to a report of an armed home invasion involving a… pic.twitter.com/fVDqyh3Tur
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) December 17, 2024
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The arrests come amid ongoing concerns about Venezuelan gangs, including Tren de Aragua (TdA), a notorious group with a sprawling network across North and South America.
The incident occurred at an apartment complex in Aurora, located roughly 30 minutes west of Denver.
Aurora has become a relocation point for many migrants after dispersal efforts in the state’s capital city.
Police confirmed that during the home invasion, two individuals were taken hostage and transferred to another unit within the same apartment building.
The hostages were reportedly “threatened and bound,” with one victim suffering a non-life-threatening stab wound, according to law enforcement.
Authorities are working to determine whether the suspects are connected to Tren de Aragua or another Venezuelan gang.
ARMED HOME INVASION IN AURORA — TRUMP WAS RIGHT
14 VENEZUELAN GANG MEMBERS ARRESTEDpic.twitter.com/gvZplKXVs5
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) December 17, 2024
Reports of migrant gang activity in Aurora follow months of escalating tensions in the area.
Over the summer, Fox News reported concerns from local residents who described armed Venezuelan gang members “roaming the halls” of apartment buildings.
A group of armed gang members of illegal immigrants has taken full control of an apartment complex and parts of a town in Aurora Colorado.
A Denver resident shares her concerns on the immigrant crisis in Colorado. Sharing concerns of apartment building being taken over, gun… pic.twitter.com/4sgLvLP2JW
— JON (@jon_nyamenda) August 28, 2024
One resident described the gang’s mindset, saying the members feel “no accountability” to police.
Tren de Aragua, in particular, is known for its motto “real until death,” or real hasta la muerte, emphasizing its members’ commitment to a violent, lawless lifestyle.
Aurora officials, including City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky, have been vocal about the impact of the gang-related activity.
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
In previous comments to Fox News, Jurinsky stated that she believes “without a doubt that there is sex trafficking now going on” in one of the apartment buildings under scrutiny.
The escalating violence comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues efforts to locate migrants with suspected ties to violent Venezuelan gangs.
In October, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas issued an alert seeking the whereabouts of more than 600 individuals who recently entered the United States.
At the time, DHS confirmed that approximately 100 of those individuals had direct links to specific gangs, though others were considered witnesses or potential participants in organized violence.
“DHS has an ongoing operation to crack down on gang members through re-screening certain individuals previously encountered, in addition to the rigorous screening and vetting at the border,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News. “All individuals confirmed or suspected to be gang members are referred for criminal prosecution or detained and placed into expedited removal.”
Reports have linked Tren de Aragua to at least 100 crimes across the United States, according to data compiled by the New York Post.
The gang, which originated in Venezuelan prisons, has grown into one of the largest organized criminal groups in the Western Hemisphere, with operations extending into the United States as illegal border crossings have surged.
Jurinsky, along with other members of the Aurora City Council, previously convened emergency measures to relocate residents from an apartment building overrun with gang activity. “It would have been impossible to get residents the resources they need without the spotlight shined on the problem,” she said.
John Fabbricatore, a Republican congressional candidate and former ICE field officer, assisted with the relocation efforts. “I literally had to borrow from everybody I know to get into a new place,” Fabbricatore told Fox News. “And it’s every bit of money I had.”
The arrests in Aurora this week reflect growing pressure on state and local authorities to address the rise in violent crime linked to migrant gangs.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement works to determine the full extent of the suspects’ connections to larger criminal networks, including Tren de Aragua.
“I’m announcing today that upon taking office, we will have an operation Aurora at the federal level.
To expedite the removal of the savage gangs, I will invoke the alien enemies act of 1798..to target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil.”… pic.twitter.com/XgxRaLOi9v
— Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) October 12, 2024
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