In Aurora, Colorado, city council member Danielle Jurinsky recently exposed internal documents indicating that local authorities have been aware of gang activity from the notorious Venezuelan “Tren De Aragua” (TdA) group for over a year. Her disclosure includes a series of internal emails from the Aurora Police Department (APD), revealing that local law enforcement had knowledge of the gang’s presence and operations since at least October 2022. The gang’s expanding control and exploitation of vulnerable residents are at the heart of a growing public safety concern for the city, with officials now facing backlash over their alleged inaction.
Jurinsky, frustrated with what she describes as a lack of transparency, released the documents on her social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter) and bringing her concerns directly to the public. The APD emails detail the gang’s grip on specific apartment buildings and their growing presence in the city. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jurinsky did not hold back, expressing her anger at city officials, state leaders, and local media for allegedly minimizing the severity of the issue.
“I am done. I am tired of the city lying,” Jurinsky said. “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.”
The Tren De Aragua gang, originally founded in Venezuela’s Aragua state, is infamous for its brutal tactics, which include extortion, trafficking, and intimidation. Since the gang first formed in 2014, it has expanded throughout Latin America and has recently targeted migrants in the U.S. Seeking safety and a new life, these individuals are instead finding themselves trapped under the gang’s influence, particularly in cities like Aurora.
The documents shared by Jurinsky reveal that APD’s Gang Intervention Unit was aware of at least 15-20 TdA members operating in Denver and Aurora as of October 2022. This intelligence also included alerts from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which reported indications that the gang intended to establish a central hub in Aurora. The documents identify two apartment complexes—the Edge at Lowry and Fitzsimons Place Apartments—as primary locations for TdA’s operations. These properties, where gang members allegedly exert considerable control, are now seen as potential hotspots for violence, extortion, and illegal trafficking within Aurora.
Aurora residents and advocates are now demanding to know why action wasn’t taken earlier. “These gangs are terrorizing people who came here to escape precisely this kind of violence,” Jurinsky stated. “If local officials won’t act, we’ll have no choice but to take this further and bring it to state and federal attention.”
Aurora’s gang issues aren’t new, but the infiltration by TdA, a foreign gang notorious for its violent methods, has raised the stakes. The gang’s presence in the city highlights the broader challenges local authorities face in containing international crime groups entering the U.S. in the wake of migration flows. The growing tension is pushing city leaders and residents to call for more aggressive policing measures, though some believe that federal intervention may be necessary.
In the wake of Jurinsky’s disclosures, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommended placing more than 100 individuals suspected of affiliation with the gang on an FBI watchlist. However, these moves have sparked a debate about how effective tracking measures are at preventing the kind of local criminal operations that residents fear are already underway.
The fear now gripping Aurora extends beyond the immediate community to surrounding areas, with many residents voicing concerns over the safety of their neighborhoods and schools. Some residents are calling for increased community policing, others for better oversight on immigration policies, especially where there are concerns that criminals might enter the country undetected among groups of asylum seekers.
The situation also reflects ongoing debates about the responsibility of local governments in preventing organized crime and ensuring public safety. While some view gang intervention and crime prevention as primarily a local issue, others argue that the federal government needs to support cities like Aurora more directly, especially when it comes to combating organized crime linked to international groups.
Critics of Aurora’s response point to other cities that have experienced similar issues with international gang infiltration, where early detection did not lead to immediate action. According to experts, when gang activity is not swiftly contained, it can lead to a rapid escalation in violence and an increase in exploitation of vulnerable groups, like the migrants currently under TdA’s control.
Residents at the Edge at Lowry and Fitzsimons Place Apartments are already reporting heightened anxiety over the potential risks of living in proximity to such violent groups. Some fear for their safety, while others worry about the long-term impact on the city’s reputation and property values. The public outcry is now putting increased pressure on both the APD and the Aurora City Council to act decisively and increase transparency on how they plan to address the gang’s presence.
Jurinsky’s revelation has ignited a call to action within Aurora and beyond, urging leaders to consider new measures for managing organized crime. As pressure builds on local authorities to act, the city faces both an immediate security challenge and a broader question of how to address crime prevention effectively.
In the meantime, concerned residents hope that the increased attention on Aurora’s gang problem will lead to meaningful change. Jurinsky’s decision to go public with the documents has opened up a difficult but necessary conversation about the city’s approach to crime prevention and how to address the safety concerns of its most vulnerable residents.
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 recently reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified over 600 individuals with potential ties to the Tren De Aragua gang, with about 100 labeled as “subjects of interest.” DHS has recommended that these individuals be added to the FBI’s Watchlist for Transnational Criminal Organizations.
The Tren De Aragua gang, which originated in Venezuela’s Tocoron prison in the state of Aragua, has spread across multiple countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and, more recently, the United States.
As part of an ongoing operation, DHS is conducting a comprehensive re-screening of migrants in response to the gang’s growing presence on American soil.
Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky’s revelations have heightened local concerns over public safety and the effectiveness of measures to counter gang activity in the area. She shared that law enforcement officers are growing increasingly frustrated and concerned for their own safety as they confront the gang’s activities in Aurora.
