Edit: Does anyone know what is really happening in Aorora? I thought this was just anti-immigration nonsense, but once the Republican nominee starts spreading this, it feels like I need to research more.
There's a small Venezuelan gang (like 10-15 people) who have been a$$holes in one neighborhood. Most of their victims are other migrants. They're more flagrant than usual for gang members but nothing extreme.
The issue blew up at first because the apartment complex's management company was a total slumlord who was taking advantage of migrants and running the place like a neglected ghetto. The city had to come in and shut it down. When that happened, the property management company tried to deflect and say, "It wasn't our fault, it was the gangs!", even though their neglect of the property started long before the gang got there and in fact was part of the reason the gang thrived. When Republicans saw the landlord complaining about a Venezuelan gang, they jumped all over the story and exaggerated their bullshyt claims to the next level.
If it wasn't for them being Venezuelan and Republicans wanting to make it a political issue, then it never would have been more than a local story. Even the Republican mayor of Aurora says the national Republican claims are bullshyt (just like the local officials in Ohio have said).
One day after former President Donald Trump said gangs from Venezuela had taken over Aurora in his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman says it's time to be clear about exactly what is happening in the city he serves.
www.cbsnews.com
Aurora Police Department released the mugshots of the gang members said to be preying on the city's migrant community.
www.newsweek.com
Aurora officials on Wednesday admitted they had been arresting people suspected — though not yet confirmed at the time of their apprehensions — of being members of a Venezuelan gang operating in the metro Denver long before the media spotlight on the city.
denvergazette.com
The alleged crimes connected to nine members of Tren de Aragua gang in Aurora include two shootings, several assaults, thefts and instances of threatening people with guns.
www.denverpost.com