AURORA, Colorado – At a rally in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday, former President Donald Trump doubled down on his hard stance against illegal immigration, calling for the death penalty for any migrant who kills an American citizen or a law enforcement officer. His comments were part of an increasingly tough message as he seeks to secure victory in the upcoming November election against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Flanked by images of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Trump promised that, if reelected, he would launch a national initiative called “Operation Aurora” to target dangerous gang members. This effort, he said, would focus on towns like Aurora, which he claimed had been heavily affected by migrant crime, even though local officials dispute these claims.
“I’m officially calling for the death penalty for any migrant that kills an American,” Trump told a cheering crowd. He also reiterated his stance on harsher punishments for sex traffickers and other serious offenders.
Despite Trump’s calls, implementing such measures would require new laws from Congress, and nearly half of U.S. states currently ban the death penalty. While a federal death penalty exists, it is rarely used.
Throughout his campaign, Trump has focused on what he calls “migrant crime,” despite studies showing that immigrants don’t commit crimes at higher rates than U.S.-born citizens.
Aurora, the focus of Trump’s Friday rally, has been at the center of a controversy involving claims that gang members had taken over apartment complexes. However, local officials, including Republican Mayor Mike Coffman, said these concerns were exaggerated and invited Trump to visit the city for a clearer understanding.
Aurora’s crime rate has actually decreased compared to previous years, according to local police reports, and residents of the apartment complexes affected by the claims say that while there are issues with the buildings, the portrayal of widespread gang activity is misleading.
“I will rescue Aurora and every town that has been invaded,” Trump said during the rally. “We will put these criminals in jail or kick them out of the country.”
Despite the tough talk, local residents and officials, including community organizer V Reeves, said they were more concerned about tensions rising due to Trump’s visit than about gang activity.
Jesus, a 30-year-old Venezuelan who lives in one of the disputed apartment buildings, expressed frustration that all Venezuelans were being blamed for the actions of a few. “We are not all bad people,” he said.
The controversy around gang activity in Aurora began when the city pushed a landlord to address issues in several apartment buildings where migrants lived. A public relations firm hired by the landlord claimed that the Venezuelan gang had taken control of the buildings, but these claims have been questioned by local authorities.
While Trump continues to spotlight immigration as a key issue in his campaign, local leaders are working to address the real problems in their communities, which may not align with Trump’s broader, more dramatic claims.
