The Aurora Police Department held a press conference Friday after security camera footage of a group of armed men inside an apartment building drew national attention last month.
At a press conference, APD Chief Todd Chamberlain said three people seen in the video, believed to be armed Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members, had outstanding arrest warrants for first-degree burglary and criminal intimidation with a firearm. Three other people seen in the video have not been identified.
Aurora police continue to search for Andersen Zambrano Pacheco, 25, and Niefred Serpa Acosta, 20. Naudi Lopez Fernandez, 21, is in custody.
Aurora police arrest 10 members of Tren de Aragua in connection with apartment takeover: statement
Chief Chamberlain said it was “difficult” to confirm gang affiliations between suspected members of Tren de Aragua, an international prison gang based in Venezuela with around 5,000 members.
“Many of these individuals that we're talking to are from countries that don't have strong ties to the United States and don't have databases that they will share or have ever shared,” Chamberlain said, “so it's been difficult to actually be able to identify these individuals as TdA gang members.”
“At this point, none of the six guys [in the video] “He had ties to organized crime gangs,” a statement given to Mr. X by the Aurora Police Department said.
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain shared an update on the arrest of a suspected Tren de Aragua member who was seen on an apartment surveillance camera last month. (@AuroraPD via X)
During the meeting, Chamberlain also stressed that the Aurora Police Department's focus is on criminal activity. Earlier this month, the Aurora Police Department announced the arrests of 10 “paper” members of Tren de Aragua. Charges include child abuse, attempted first-degree murder and illegal use of a firearm.
“The Aurora Police Department investigates based on criminal conduct, not immigration status,” Chamberlain said. “Immigration status is enforced by federal law, a federal matter.”
ICE confirms Aurora, Colorado gang members are in the U.S. illegally, Biden administration to release
On September 5, ICE confirmed to Fox News that the four members of Tren de Aragua arrested in Aurora in connection with the July shooting were in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela.
Aurora City Councilman Daniel Jurinski said more help is needed from the federal government to address the issue.
Aurora police held a press conference Friday to update the public on a series of arrests of suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang. (@AuroraPD via X)
“Immigration is the federal government's job, which is why we need help,” Jurinski said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital.
“What happens when ICE detention facilities become full? Venezuela can't just clear its prisons of migrants and then decide not to accept anyone. The federal government needs to show us a plan,” Jurinski added.
“This is not an immigration issue. This is a crime issue,” Chief Chamberlain said at a press conference. “It's a federal issue. [government]Immigration is a federal issue, it's an issue that they're focused on. It's what they've done, it's what's coming out of the federal government, it's what's coming out of the White House.”
At a press conference on Friday, the Aurora Police Department made it clear that they believe they need more help from the federal government to address the crime problem in Tren de Aragua. (@AuroraPD via X)
About 8 million contacts have been made since the Biden administration took office. Illegal immigration at the southwest border, according to the House Homeland Security Committee.
Fox News' Alicia Acuña questioned Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain during a press conference Friday about the common narrative that gangs have “taken over” the city.
“I can tell you right now, gangs do not run the city of Aurora,” Chamberlain responded. “If you had to take anything away, I would say yes. Are there gangs in the city of Aurora? Yes, there are. Are there gangs in most major cities across the United States? 100% there.”
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The Aurora Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
