Trump's claims about migrants in Aurora have “unfairly harmed the city,” mayor says

Donald Trump once again spread dangerously exaggerated claims that migrants had “invaded” and “conquered” Aurora, Colorado, ratcheted up his anti-immigrant rhetoric and attacked Vice President Kamala Harris.

At a rally in Aurora on Friday, Trump repeated claims about the city's “takeover” by the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The Republican presidential candidate, who has long supported the death penalty, also called for the death penalty for migrants who kill U.S. citizens and law enforcement officers.

In a long, rambling speech, Trump blamed Harris for allowing immigrants to enter from “the dungeons of the Third World, from jails and prisons, lunatic asylums and mental institutions” and for what he said were “innocent Americans” across the country exploited. also in Colorado's third largest city.

“I will save Aurora and every city that has been invaded and conquered,” Trump said.

Local officials in Aurora have repeatedly rejected Trump's lies. Police said they were investigating several gang members for involvement in crimes, but rejected claims that any one gang had “taken power”. Ahead of Trump's rally on Friday, the city released a statement that specifically said:

With less than a month to go before Election Day, Trump has ratcheted up his nativist rhetoric, part of his tried-and-tested tactic of stoking fears about immigration, one of the biggest issues in this race. But his singling out specific cities like Aurora and Springfield, Ohio, had serious consequences for the communities there.

Before Trump's rally, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a Republican, said claims of Venezuelan gang activity were “vastly exaggerated” and unfairly hurt the city's identity and sense of security.

“The city and state have not been 'taken over', 'invaded' or 'occupied' by migrant gangs,” Coffman said.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain told NBC News that the city is “not overrun” and that it remains “a very safe city” with a “wonderful community that is incredibly diverse.”