Denver’s policy of welcoming migrants is having unintended consequences in the neighboring city of Aurora, Colorado, according to a new report from the New York Post . It is now struggling with the arrival of a notorious Venezuelan prison gang, leading to a surge in violent crime.
Aurora, a city with a population of 390,000 located directly east of Denver, has become a hub for the Tren de Aragua gang, local law enforcement sources told the Post.
The group took over several apartment complexes and caused significant trouble in the community.
Since December 2022, Denver, often described as an immigration “sanctuary city,” received more than 40,000 migrants from the southern border, making it a leader in migrant arrivals per capita.
The city took extensive measures to provide aid. City leaders cut back on emergency services to manage the costs, which have already exceeded $68 million.
In February 2024, the Aurora City Council passed a resolution declaring it would not offer resources or support to migrants from neighboring cities like Denver.