Aurora, CO – Republican Mayor Mike Coffman of Aurora, Colorado, publicly criticized former President Donald Trump on Tuesday for spreading false claims about the city’s immigrant community ahead of Trump’s scheduled visit.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Coffman addressed Trump’s unfounded allegations that rising crime in Aurora was due to an influx of Venezuelan migrants. Trump had made these claims without providing any evidence, first raising the issue during a September debate.
“Grossly Exaggerated Claims”
Coffman made it clear that the concerns surrounding Venezuelan gang activity in Aurora had been blown out of proportion. He noted that incidents tied to these claims were isolated to a few apartment complexes in a city of over 400,000 residents.
“The reality is that the concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated,” Coffman wrote. “The incidents were limited to several apartment complexes in this city.”
Invitation to Meet Local Law Enforcement
Coffman extended an invitation to Trump, offering him the opportunity to meet with local law enforcement during his visit. He suggested this would provide the former president with a more accurate understanding of public safety in Aurora.
“Former President Trump’s visit to Aurora is an opportunity to show him and the nation that Aurora is a considerably safe city – not a city overrun by Venezuelan gangs,” Coffman added.
Gang Presence Limited
Coffman and Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, have also spoken out about the false narratives being circulated. They highlighted investigations into the presence of the Tren de Aragua gang, which Trump has referenced in his statements.
The officials clarified that the gang’s activity is confined to specific properties within the city. According to Coffman and Jurinsky, Aurora Police Department investigations have linked 10 people to the gang, with eight arrests already made. Two of those arrested were involved in a shooting in July at one of the properties experiencing gang-related issues.
“We can also now confirm that criminal activity, including TdA issues, had significantly affected those properties,” their joint statement read.
Trump Doubles Down on False Claims
Despite these facts, Trump has continued to make misleading claims about Aurora on the campaign trail. In an interview with KFI AM 640, he criticized Coffman and other city officials for downplaying the issues. He also attacked Colorado’s Democratic leadership, accusing them of being unresponsive to crime in the state.
“You have many cities that are worse than Aurora,” Trump said during the radio interview. “The mayor, the governor of Colorado, a liberal Democrat, have no idea what to do.”
Trump is set to visit Aurora on Friday, where his comments are likely to be closely scrutinized following these disputes over the city’s public safety and migrant community.
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