Tren de Aragua invasion is figment of official’s ‘imagination,’ claims Colorado Democratic Gov. Polis, despite video evidence

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, claimed Wednesday that reports that a violent Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, has invaded parts of the state are largely the result of a city councilman’s “imagination.”

Polis posted the comments after KDVR, a local news station, shared video of a group of men carrying firearms as they stormed through an apartment complex in Aurora, Blaze News reported. Separate video from the same residence, which appears to have been taken earlier, captured a man using a hammer to smash the deadbolt on the door.

‘Disinformation campaign threatens actual criminal investigations.’

According to the news outlet, illegal immigrants have taken over the apartment complex, which has since become a hotbed of criminal activity, including violent shootings.

Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky recently told Fox News Digital that the Denver metropolitan area has seen more gang-related crime.

Due to the increased presence of TDA, the Aurora Police Department has formed a special task force. However, police have noted that TDA’s influence is “isolated” at this time.

Despite the video evidence and police reports about the gang’s activities, Polis claimed the alleged takeover by TDA is largely “imaginary.”

Shelby Wieman, a spokesman for the governor, told the New York Post: “The governor has already informed the mayor that the state stands ready to support local law enforcement with assistance from state police and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, if needed.”

“But according to police intelligence, this alleged invasion was largely a product of Danielle Jurinsky’s imagination,” Polis’ spokesman said.

Wieman told the Post that it is “illegal to take over buildings in Colorado” and that if Jurinsky has “knowledge” of such activity, Polis’ office “stands ready to assist” local law enforcement agencies in reclaiming the properties.

According to Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman (R), there are “several buildings” that “have fallen into the hands of these Venezuelan gangs.”

The Post asked Polis’ office if it would retract its earlier statements given the overwhelming evidence of the TDA’s presence in Aurora. However, Wieman responded that the governor “really hopes the city council members in charge will stop trashing their own city when they should be keeping it safe.”

“Over the past month, Governor Polis has been in regular contact with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department and has offered any state assistance possible to support their efforts if requested,” Wieman said.

Jurinsky told Fox News Digital: “My question to the governor is, is this also a figment of the Romero imagination?”

Cindy and Edward Romero, former residents of the Aurora apartment where the gunmen were seen on surveillance footage storming the complex, called living there “a nightmare.” They said their vehicle was riddled with bullets from a shooting that occurred this month before they moved in.

“There are people behind this who are just playing politics,” Jurinsky said. “I find that so sad because these are real people, just like the Romeros who are suffering on the other side of those doors, living behind four deadbolts and a door bar and living in fear every day in these complexes.”

“It’s promising that people across the board are really seeing what’s happening,” she continued. “Video footage is only undeniable for our governor in Colorado. Everyone in the country is seeing this with their own eyes.”

Wieman told the news outlet: “We know violent crime in Aurora declined between 2022 and 2023, and we expect the data to continue to decline through 2024. Additionally, the recent disinformation campaign threatens actual criminal investigations and could harm the small business climate in Aurora.”

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