Republican House bill targets Venezuelan gang that allegedly took over Colorado apartment complex

FIRST ON FOX: A Colorado Republican is pressuring the Biden administration to take tougher action against the presence of illegal immigrants involved in gangs in the U.S.

The indictment follows allegations that an organized criminal group from Venezuela took over an apartment complex in Aurora.

Rep. Greg Lopez, Republican of Colorado, whose 4th Congressional District borders the one that includes the Denver suburb, introduced a new bill this week that, if passed, would require the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain migrants who law enforcement knows have gang ties.

VIDEO SHOWS ARMED GANG IN TROUBLED COLORADO BUILDING BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY MIGRANTS

Members of the Tren de Aragua gang allegedly took over an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, and charged rent in exchange for protection. (Edward Romero/Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky)

It is one of several bills introduced by House Republicans since reports of crime by illegal immigrants have mounted in cities and towns across the U.S.

Illegal immigrants have been charged with several high-profile murders in the US this year, including Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray.

In Colorado, Denver law firm Perkins Coie released a report this week revealing that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua has a “stranglehold” on the Whispering Pines Apartments in Aurora.

TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED IN AURORA, COLORADO IN CONNECTION WITH APARTMENT BUILDING TAKEOVER: POLICE

Rep. Greg Lopez introduces legislation targeting alleged criminal gang members in his state of Colorado. (Getty Images)

According to CBS News Colorado, Perkins Coie has determined that the gang has engaged in “violent attacks, murder threats, extortion, violent tactics and child prostitution” since taking over the complex in late 2023.

Lopez wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday urging him to “immediately issue a directive” to the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office “to aggressively arrest, detain and deport all members of Tren de Aragua or other known foreign criminal gangs present in the State of Colorado,” with a specific focus on Denver suburbs like Aurora.

“Under your leadership, the United States has lost control of our southern border,” Lopez wrote.

“Criminal networks, including Tren de Aragua, are taking advantage of the situation and wreaking havoc in our communities, as millions of incidents occur every year.”

AURORA POLICE RESPOND TO ALLEGED PRESENCE OF VENEZUELAN GANG IN APARTMENTS: ‘THEY DIDN’T TAKE OVER’

Meanwhile, police officers in Aurora deny that there was a gang takeover.

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“We’ve been talking to the residents here and learning from them to try to figure out exactly what’s going on, and there’s definitely a different picture,” Aurora Interim Police Chief Heather Morris said in a Facebook video, according to USA Today. “I’m not saying there aren’t gang members that don’t live in this community.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS and the city of Aurora for comment on Lopez’s letter and bill.