Aurora, Colorado Mayor Mike Coffman (R) accused Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) of facilitating a secret immigration program that led to a serious increase in gang activity in Aurora.
In Monday's editorial denver gazetteCoffman blamed Johnston for the ongoing immigration and gang crisis, alleging that Johnston partnered with two nongovernmental organizations to transport foreign nationals from the sanctuary city of Denver to other nearby towns. .
“Mr. Coffman's weak leadership allowed this situation to occur.”
Mr. Coffman, who has come under fire for his role in allowing illegal aliens to settle in Aurora, gave Mr. Johnston in November the use of a Quality Inn hotel to house “buses of immigrants overwhelming Denver.” He defended his decision to allow it.
“At first I said yes, but it soon became clear that they had no plans other than to give the newly arrived immigrants 30-day hotel vouchers and make them homeless in Aurora.” wrote Coffman.
He claimed that he demanded that Johnston pick up the immigrants and send them back to Denver.
“He did so, and I have since declined his requests for further assistance,” Coffman said.
He asserted that Johnston was “constantly speaking in political soundbites.”
Coffman cited the City Journal article. report It showed that Johnston was drafting contracts with NGOs to house migrants in and around sanctuary cities.
Specifically, the report states that an organization partnered with property management company CBZ Management to develop three apartment complexes in Aurora: Fitzsimmons, also known as Edge of Raleigh, Whispering Pines, and Aspen Grove. Place). .
CBZ management and its housing complexes were thrown into the center of a national immigration debate after a former Edge of Raleigh resident released footage of an armed group attacking the complex.
One of the men in the video was later arrested and reportedly admitted to law enforcement that he was a member of the Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua. The organization is spread across more than a dozen states in the country.
CBZ Management accused the city of allowing the gang to take over the apartment complex.
“After reading the article, I pressed Mr. Johnston on whether this was true. Mr. Johnston asserted that the City of Denver had a contract with a nonprofit organization that 'pumped' immigrants from Denver to Aurora. “But he refused to confirm the number of migrants, housing, or what resources were provided,” Coffman wrote.
He explained that a public records request revealed that the city of Denver's contract with the nonprofit organization allowed it to place immigrants “in Denver or the surrounding areas.” He argued that such language allowed NGOs to house immigrants in Aurora without notifying city leaders.
“By allowing Johnston to say it wasn't Johnston's decision to put them in Aurora, it was the nonprofit that made the decision, giving Johnston asylum in the event that it becomes public,” Coffman said. It will become.”
“The city of Aurora has suffered a national disgrace and tarnished the city's image in a way that could have lasting economic consequences. As the mayor of Aurora, I call on Mayor Mike Johnston to provide transparency. We ask them to remain true to themselves and tell the truth.” what did he do? ”
This was announced by Johnston's office. fox news digital“Denver is not directing nonprofits or agencies to place new recruits in Aurora.”
“There is no documentation or knowledge to suggest that city funds were used to support rentals at CBZ properties. Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue,” the spokesperson continued. “Denver is proud to have assisted approximately 43,000 people from our southern border, many of whom arrived on buses chartered by the Texas Governor, even though they never intended to call Denver or Colorado their home. did.”
Former ICE Denver Field Office Director John Fabricatore claimed that Coffman's op-ed was an attempt to “cover his tracks.”
“He's known about this for a while, and he knew that Denver was moving Venezuelans to Aurora. Coffman's weak leadership allowed this to happen. He also learned through APD.” [Aurora Police Department] Torren de Aragua knew he was moving to North Aurora in December 2023. He knew all this and yet lied to the media,” Fabricatore wrote. post With X.
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