Former US President Donald Trump has reignited his anti-immigration rhetoric by calling for the death penalty for migrants who kill American citizens or law enforcement officers. Addressing supporters in Aurora, Colorado, Trump claimed that he was “hereby calling for the death penalty for any migrant who kills an American citizen or a law enforcement officer.” The Republican candidate blamed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for lax border policies that have allowed Venezuelan criminal gangs to occupy Aurora.
Since 2022, around 40,000 Venezuelan immigrants have arrived in Aurora, accounting for 10% of the city’s population. Most of these immigrants entered the US illegally but were granted permission to live and work in the country for two years under a scheme introduced by the Biden administration in October of that year. This influx led to a surge in violent and gang-related crimes, which local authorities say has since subsided. However, the issue gained attention again in August when the owner of an apartment complex claimed his property had been taken over by heavily armed men affiliated with the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
Trump accused Biden and Harris of importing an “army” of criminal migrants from the third world to prey on innocent American citizens, particularly in Aurora. He promised to launch “Operation Aurora” to remove these gangs if re-elected next month. Trump has previously vowed to lead the largest deportation operation in US history if he returns to the White House.
There were approximately 10.2 million illegal immigrants living in the United States in 2020. Under Biden’s administration, which tasked Harris with overseeing border security, at least 10.6 million more have entered the country, according to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) figures. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data released last month revealed that 425,431 convicted criminals and 222,141 people with pending criminal charges have entered the US illegally and are currently living free inside the country while awaiting court hearings or deportation proceedings. These include 62,231 convicted of assault, 56,533 with drug convictions, and 13,099 convicted of homicide.