Venezuelan prison gangs taking over apartment buildings in Colorado

Entire apartment complexes are under gang control

FOX News reports, the suburban communities surrounding Denver are increasingly feeling the effects of the Mile High City's growing migrant population. Though Denver is a sanctuary city, its neighboring suburbs, which do not share its policies, are now confronting the arrival of a notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, which is known for violent crime and sex trafficking.

Officials in Aurora, a city located roughly nine miles east of Denver, have reported that the Tren de Aragua gang has established a significant presence, taking control of entire apartment complexes. Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky told Fox News Digital that gang members have assaulted staff, threatened families, and effectively driven out property management from these locations.

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"We currently have entire complexes under gang control," said Jurinsky. "These complexes are being run by this Tren de Aragua gang. They start brokering apartments themselves when someone leaves out of fear or whatever. They go in and take pictures of the apartment themselves. Then, I've been told, within hours, a Venezuelan family moves in."

The gang's influence has brought a noticeable spike in violent crime in Aurora, including sex trafficking, and has created a sense of fear and helplessness among residents and business owners. Jurinsky emphasized that local media is downplaying the severity of the situation and accused them of prioritizing politics over public safety.

Calls for emergency services have increased, putting a strain on Aurora's already overburdened police force. Jurinsky said that the types of crimes reported, linked to gang activity, are unprecedented in the city.

Tren de Aragua, a violent gang originating from a Venezuelan prison, has been linked to several high-profile crimes across the United States, such as the murder of a Georgia nursing student and the shooting of two NYPD officers. Recently, the gang's leaders issued directives to members across the country to resist law enforcement efforts by any means necessary.

The presence of gang leader Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirino, known as "Galleta," in Aurora has added to the tension. He has been implicated in violent incidents, including a brutal assault and a shooting that left two people injured at a complex under the gang's control. Despite his criminal activities, Pacheco-Chirino has reportedly been detained and released multiple times since crossing the southern U.S. border in 2022.

Aurora's challenges have been exacerbated by the influx of migrants into Denver. According to The Colorado Sun, Denver, with a population of about 710,000, leads the nation in migrant arrivals per capita, having received over 40,000 migrants from the southern border since 2022. The city has spent approximately $68 million on migrant support, leading to cutbacks in emergency services.

Aurora officials, including Jurinsky, have expressed frustration with Denver's handling of the migrant crisis and have adopted a firm stance against providing support or resources to incoming migrants. Douglas County, located near Denver, also passed an ordinance prohibiting unscheduled bus stops, attempting to curb the growing rates of migrants being dropped off in the area.

Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon stated that the impact on Denver's neighboring communities was foreseeable when Denver codified its resistance to working with federal immigration enforcement in 2017. He highlighted that local law enforcement's inability to communicate with federal immigration authorities is further complicating the issue.

While an ICE detention center exists in Aurora, it is reportedly overwhelmed, with hundreds of detainees released weekly. Jurinsky and other local leaders argue that stronger cooperation between local and federal authorities is essential to address the growing threat of gang activity.

Joe Gamaldi, national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, told Fox News Digital that the problem is not confined to Denver or Aurora but is part of a broader national issue involving South American gangs. He stressed the need for significant investment in gang units and a robust criminal justice system that does not offer leniency to violent offenders.

Former FBI official Chris Swecker also weighed in, suggesting that the influx of gang members is "predictable and preventable," comparing it to the Mariel Boatlift of 1980 when a large number of Cubans emigrated to the United States. Swecker called for a more coordinated federal response, involving agencies like the FBI, ATF, and DEA, to tackle what he described as an international crime problem.

As suburban communities around Denver face these unprecedented challenges, they continue to call for stronger action from both local and federal authorities to protect their residents and restore safety to their neighborhoods.

Source: Fox News