During his rally in Aurora, Colorado, Donald Trump used charged rhetoric, proclaiming that he would “save” the city, which he described as “invaded and conquered” by illegal migrants.
Trump announced that if re-elected, he would launch a nationwide program called “Operation Aurora” to arrest and deport undocumented gang members. Trump said the program would be based on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime authority that allows the president to arrest or deport members of an enemy nation.
In recent weeks, the Republican presidential candidate has repeatedly mentioned the city of Aurora in his campaign speeches and compared the Denver suburb to a “war zone.” He was referring to a video that went viral and was widely shown by right-wing media, which showed armed immigrants from Latin America rioting in an apartment building. As a result, there were numerous reports that the city just outside Denver was being terrorized by immigrants from Venezuela. These depictions, in turn, fueled Trump’s campaign message on immigration. The Republican candidate said the U.S. was being overrun by “savages” and “beasts.”
He showed television clips, including Fox News segments, about criminal migrants and said the immigrants were coming from mental hospitals and prisons and were taking over cities like Aurora. “Our criminals are like babies compared to these people. These criminals are the most violent people in the world.” He blamed his rival, US Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, for the increase in new immigrants.
WOW. Aurora’s Republican Mayor Mike Coffman REBUKED Trump for lying about his city during a rally earlier today:
“The concerns about Venezuelan gang activity in our city – and our state – have been grossly exaggerated and have unfairly hurt the city’s identity and sense of… pic.twitter.com/xAqZszs7rl
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 12, 2024
Mayor and police contradict: representation exaggerated
However, the city’s political institutions contradicted Trump. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a Republican, said he was “disappointed that the former president was not able to experience more of our city.” “The reality is that concerns about Venezuelan gang activity in our city have been greatly exaggerated and have unfairly violated the city’s identity and sense of security,” Coffman said in a statement.
Aurora police made a similar statement in a statement on “Based on our initial investigation, we believe the reports of TdA influence in Aurora are isolated,” police said.
APD officers have been proactively patrolling areas where there is suspected TdA activity.
Today, Interim Chief Heather Morris and several officers connected with residents at The Edge at Lowry apartments at Dallas Street and 12th Avenue to offer reassurances, provide updates… pic.twitter.com/sOYSWW8aHk
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) August 31, 2024
Although polls show Trump leading in a close race against Vice President Kamala Harris nationally, recent polls have shown him trailing his rival by as much as 15 percentage points in Colorado. In 2020, Trump lost to Joe Biden in Colorado by 13.5 percentage points. Republicans have not won a statewide race in Colorado since 2016.
This is not the first time that Trump has proposed expanding the death penalty for criminals, including those convicted of sex trafficking of women and children.
The death penalty is banned in almost half of US states. Although the death penalty exists at the federal level, according to the Death Penalty Information Centera non-profit organization, is rarely used. Expanding the eligible offenses would require an act of the U.S. Congress.
