AURORA, Colo. — The increasing attention on the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua TdA in Colorado is raising concerns among activists, who fear it could negatively impact innocent immigrants.
Videos have surfaced on social media claiming that Venezuelan gang members are taking over Aurora, with one video showing armed individuals attempting to break into an apartment. However, these claims have not been confirmed by the city or the Aurora Police Department.
Activists argue that this focus on TdA is making life more difficult for the majority of immigrants who have no connection to the gang. Nate Kassa, a community organizer with the East Colfax Community Collective, believes that the narrative is harmful and could lead to increased prejudice against immigrants.
César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, an immigration professor at The Ohio State University, cautions that the situation is complex and fears that people may unfairly blame Venezuelan migrants.
Aurora city officials have acknowledged that elements of the Venezuelan gang are present in the area but emphasized that reports of TdA’s influence are isolated. A special task force has been established to investigate criminal activities affecting migrant communities.
Tren de Aragua began as a prison gang in Venezuela and has since expanded across the Americas. The Biden administration recently designated it as a transnational criminal organization involved in various illegal activities.
Activists like Kassa worry that the focus on the gang could divert resources away from law-abiding immigrant families, further harming the community.