During a rally in Uniondale, New York on Wednesday night, former President Donald Trump announced plans to visit Aurora and Springfield, Ohio, within the next two weeks.
“I’m going to go there in the next two weeks. I’m going to Springfield and I’m going to Aurora,” Trump told rally-goers. “You may never see me again, but that’s OK. Got to do what I got to do.”
The city of Aurora reported that there were no formalized plans for a visit from the former president at this time.
Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, has been vocal about immigration issues in both Aurora and Springfield, but local officials have repeatedly pushed back against his statements, labeling them as misinformation. Recently, Trump declared that if elected again, he would initiate the largest deportation in U.S. history, starting in Aurora.
Trump did not elaborate on how these deportations would be executed or how law enforcement would identify individuals residing in the U.S. illegally. He also continued to claim, without evidence, that violent migrant gangs are overtaking U.S. cities, a sentiment he echoed during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We’re going to take care of Ohio, Colorado, and every single state in the union,” Trump said. “They’re all under siege.”
Trump also made unsubstantiated claims that immigrants were harming local pets in Springfield. Additionally, he spread disinformation about migrants in Colorado.
Aurora has seen over 40,000 migrants arrive in the Denver metro area in recent years. During this time, crime rates, including violent crimes, have decreased in both Denver and Aurora. A recent viral video showed members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, which was confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security. The footage depicted armed men entering an apartment unit.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a Republican and former congressman, called the incident isolated and assured that the police were addressing it. In a statement, Aurora officials said that enforcing immigration law is the responsibility of federal authorities, while the Aurora Police Department (APD) remains focused on state and local law enforcement.
Trump has mentioned Aurora specifically in his debates. Referring to immigration, he stated, “They are taking over the towns. They are taking over buildings. They are going in violently.”
Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky responded by noting that the individuals committing crimes represent a small fraction of migrants entering the U.S. “This is not just an Aurora issue. This is nationwide,” Jurinsky said, referencing the growing concerns about the Tren de Aragua gang. Since the issue first gained attention, Aurora police have identified 10 suspected gang members and arrested nine of them.
As of now, it is unclear when Trump will visit Colorado. No events have been listed on his campaign website.
