The four Venezuelan members of the Tren de Aragua gang arrested in Colorado are illegal immigrants, an ICE spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Fox News.
The four Venezuelan nationals, ages 19 to 24, illegally crossed the southern border through Texas under the Biden administration in 2022 and 2023. All four are currently in ICE custody.
The four were arrested after the shooting near the Nome Street Apartments, one of the Aurora apartment buildings occupied by armed members of the Tren de Aragua group.
Alleged takeover of Aurora, Colorado apartment by Venezuelan gang reportedly began in 2023
The four, Jonati DeJesus Pacheco Chirinos, Jonardy Jose Pacheco Chirinos, Nixon Jose Azuaje Perez and Dixon Jose Azuaje Perez, were arrested on July 28 on suspicion of attempted murder.
“We are now at [Jhonnarty Dejesus Pacheco-Chirinos] He is a chartered member of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) and is the brother of Jonaldi Jose Pacheco Chirinos, also known as “Cookie” or “Galeta.”
According to a statement provided to Fox News by ICE on Thursday, four Venezuelan nationals were identified as being in the United States illegally. (Edward Romero, Aurora Police Department)
“Additionally, two other individuals arrested that day are suspected gang members. They are Dixon Azuaje Perez, 20, and Nixon Azuaje Perez, 19. Both were arrested on suspicion of evidence tampering in a shooting on Nome Street on July 28. Both individuals have gang ties and are suspected to be members of TdA,” Aurora police said.
Last week, surveillance camera footage from the Romero family's apartment went viral, showing heavily armed Tren de Aragua gang members breaking down the door to their Aurora apartment.
The Tren de Aragua international criminal organization has around 5,000 members in Venezuela and the United States and is known for its involvement in drug and human trafficking.
Police say members of the Tren de Aragua gang have been arrested in Aurora, Colorado, in connection with an apartment takeover.
According to ICE, 24-year-old Jonady Jose Pacheco Chirinos, known as “Cookie,” was encountered by Border Patrol agents in the Del Rio Sector, Texas, in October 2022. Pacheco has since been released and served a summons to cite. Pacheco is currently charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, among other offenses.
Cookie's brother, Jonati DeJesus Pacheco Chirinos, was arrested on charges including attempted murder. He was also arrested in October 2022 in the Del Rio Sector, Texas.
Both Nixon and Dixon Azuaje Perez were arrested by Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Aug. 22, 2023. They were given notices to appear and were released on parole in the United States pending the completion of their proceedings.
“The Biden Administration's failure to secure our border has left Aurora residents and other Americans suffering at the hands of the Tren de Aragua gang,” Aurora City Councilman Daniel Jurinski said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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According to the House Homeland Security Committee, there have been at least 7.8 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the southwest border under the Biden administration, with ICE making decisions on a case-by-case basis.
