AURORA — The city of Aurora is roughly the size of pre-evacuation Tampa, Florida. With 400,000 people spread across 164 square miles, it features upscale subdivisions, working-class neighborhoods, and even the high-end resort where Donald Trump plans to hold a rally this Friday. His event aims to depict Aurora as a city turned "into a war zone" by immigrants, as his campaign has described it.
Paradoxically, the reality on the ground here is quite different, especially when it pertains to crime statistics. Contrary to Trump's assertions, Aurora's crime rate has been steadily declining, much like what’s observed across several American cities.
The spark igniting Trump’s rhetoric about this Denver suburb traces back to events from August, located on just one block of the city—in an apartment complex housing numerous Venezuelan migrants. Videos emerged of heavily armed men going door to door, claiming to represent a Venezuelan gang extorting rent from tenants. Eyewitness accounts also noted violence, including one fatal shooting outside the complex.
Fast forward to now, authorities have identified six suspects with one arrest, and reports indicate tenants feel safer than before. "They left, and it’s been nice and calm," said Edward Ramirez, 38, as he parked his car. He, along with several other tenants, confirmed the area has returned to normalcy. "It’s quiet, we can work, it’s normal."
Aurora’s downward trend of crime mirrors the national patterns seen across America, coinciding with the arrival of Venezuelans fleeing their home country. National surveys reveal immigrants, overall, are actually less likely to commit crimes than their native-born counterparts. Yet, this incident has become utilitarian fodder for Trump’s campaign, which frequently leverages isolated cases of migrant-related violence to paint immigrants broadly as threats to national security.
During one such rally, Trump remarked, "Do you see what they’re doing in Colorado? They’re taking over... They become real estate developers from Venezuela. They have equipment our military doesn’t have!" His sweeping claims about Aurora—where his campaign termed the city "a war zone"—have irked many local residents.
"Former President Trump’s visit to Aurora is an opportunity to show him and the nation we are not overrun by Venezuelan gangs," declared Mayor Mike Coffman. Coffman, once a critic of Trump during his tenure as a Republican congressman, insisted, “The concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated.”
Though Police Chief Todd Chamberlain admitted there was "a slight" spike in crime during September, attributed to the uptick of Venezuelan migrants, he explained last month's data showed crimes fell by over 12 percent when compared to September.
Confronted with questions about their claims of gang violence amid declining statistics, Trump's campaign retorted through the Republican National Committee. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly described the situation as indicative of broader issues across states, proclaiming, "Aurora apartment complexes are war zones, fentanyl is flooding communities, and migrant criminals are raping and murdering victims."
Venezuelans began settling in Denver late 2022, with Colorado's crime rates showing a gradual increase since the pandemic. Still, throughout 2023, crime has relaxed, even as many migrants have taken to street corners to sell flowers or wash windshields—a behavior frustrating many Colorado voters.
Aurora's city council did pass measures opposing the resettlement of migrants within the city limits, but numerous nonprofits stepped up to find property owners willing to accommodate those seeking residence. The result? Some migrants moved independently to cheap rentals, creating mixed reactions within the community.
Triggering more interest from Trump, the Venezuelan government has even been accused of exporting its troubles to the U.S., with Trump alleging they’re emptying prisons and mental institutions to send potential offenders abroad. This narrative, which insinuates Caracas is somehow safer than many American cities, astonished local Venezuelan migrants, who report feeling safer here than back home.
"It’s a thousand times safer than Venezuela here," asserted Dexe Medina, 44, after leaving the very same apartment complex where recent armed visits occurred.
The neighborhood housing many Venezuelans has traditionally been one of Aurora’s rougher spots. While long-term residents described occasional gunshots as commonplace, many now feel the area is improving. Diego Garcia, 18, noted, "Honestly, this general area has improved. It used to be much worse."
While residents express relief with the calming of tensions, they also acknowledge the initial fear stirred during the gunmen's presence. City councilman Dustin Zvonek maintains the narrative of declining crime yet cautions against downplaying the unique challenges faced by those living nearby. "It’s rarely perceived as serious until it touches you personally," he remarked.
The next few weeks leading up to Trump’s rally could see a surge of discussions about crime and immigration, with Aurora residents caught between the need for safety and their neighbors who are fighting for their chance at stability. The rally may well sketch renewed mountain peaks of tension, with political undertones echoing through the region as the situation develops.
