Written by Ted Hesson, Nathan Frandino, and Christina Cook
AURORA, Colorado (Reuters) – Donald Trump portrayed immigrants as dangerous criminals during a rally in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday and called for the death penalty for immigrants who kill American citizens, as he steps up the anti-immigration rhetoric that has fueled his presidential bid. .
Surrounded by posters of alleged members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, Trump said that if elected he would launch a national “Operation Aurora” to target gang members.
Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has noticeably toughened his anti-immigration rhetoric in the final weeks of the election campaign scheduled for November 5, as he aims to defeat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Polls show that illegal immigration is a major concern for voters, and most voters consider Trump the most capable person to deal with it.
“I am here calling for the death penalty for any immigrant who kills an American citizen or law enforcement officer,” Trump said amid loud cheers from a large crowd of his supporters.
Trump has already proposed expanding the death penalty to other perpetrators, including people convicted of sex trafficking of women and children.
Nearly half of US states ban the death penalty. Although a federal death penalty exists, it is rarely used, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit group. Expansion of eligible crimes would require action by the U.S. Congress.
One of the defining features of Trump’s third presidential run has been his focus on what he calls “immigrant crime,” even though academic studies show that immigrants do not commit crimes at a higher rate than native-born Americans.
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the death penalty proposal.
Vice President Harris has hardened her stance on border security after becoming the Democratic nominee in August, criticizing Trump for helping to stifle a bipartisan border security bill introduced in Congress earlier this year.
The lights are Aurora
During a presidential debate with Harris on September 10, Trump claimed that members of the Tren de Aragua control several dilapidated apartment complexes in Aurora, claims that were refuted by top city officials.
At Friday’s rally, he reiterated his pledge to focus enforcement on Aurora if re-elected.
“I will save Aurora and every city that has been invaded and occupied,” Trump said. “We will put these evil and bloodthirsty criminals in prison or expel them from our country.”
Despite Trump’s incendiary statements aimed at stirring up his base, immigrants have not taken over any city in America.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a Republican, said in a statement before the rally that “concerns about Venezuelan gang activity are greatly exaggerated” and welcomed Trump’s visit to the city.
Major crimes in Aurora are down year over year, according to Aurora Police Department statistics.
V Reeves, a community organizer with the Housekeys Action Network, said residents were nervous about Trump’s visit.
“They are concerned about Trump supporters showing up and threatening them,” Reeves said.
In two of the apartment buildings at the center of the controversy, Reuters observed broken windows and rubbish on Thursday. One building has mobile police camera stations that residents said were installed this week.
Jesus, a 30-year-old Venezuelan landscaper who lives in one of the buildings, said all Venezuelans are to blame for the actions of a few.
“We are not all bad people,” said Jesus, who declined to reveal his last name.
The dispute over gang activity in Aurora stems from an attempt by the city to force the owner of several apartment complexes where immigrants live to address repairs, litter, pest infestations and other complaints.
A public relations firm hired by the owner, CBZ Management, said in early August that members of the Tren de Aragua gang had seized the properties, according to documents obtained by Reuters through a Colorado Open Records Act request.
CBZ management did not respond to requests for comment.
The allegations gained national attention in late August when a video of men with guns in an apartment building went viral.
Cindy Romero, a former resident of the apartment complex, captured the footage using her two security cameras. Speaking at the rally on Friday, she said she was a lifelong Democrat but would vote for Trump because of her experience with crime.