ICE Makes Statement About Colorado
The arrest of four Venezuelan nationals connected to the violent Tren de Aragua gang in Colorado has brought renewed scrutiny to the Biden administration’s border policies. The men, all illegal aliens who crossed the southern border through Texas in 2022 and 2023, were apprehended after a shooting in Aurora, Colorado, which left the community shaken.
According to ICE officials, the four men, ages 19 to 24, are confirmed members or associates of the notorious Tren de Aragua, a transnational gang involved in drug and human trafficking.
The four Venezuelans—Jhonnarty Dejesus Pacheco-Chirinos, Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirinos (aka "Cookie"), Nixon Jose Azuaje Perez, and Dixon Jose Azuaje Perez—were arrested in connection with a July 28 attempted homicide near the Nome Street Apartments in Aurora.
Police have confirmed that at least two of the men are documented members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which has about 5,000 members operating between Venezuela and the U.S. The gang’s presence in Aurora has alarmed residents, with recent surveillance footage showing armed members breaking into an apartment, highlighting the extent of the gang’s foothold in the area.
Both Jhonnarty and Jhonardy Pacheco-Chirinos, who were apprehended by Border Patrol agents at the Del Rio Sector in Texas in 2022, were released with notices to appear—one of many examples critics have pointed to regarding failures in the current immigration system.
Jhonnarty is now facing attempted murder charges, while his brother, Jhonardy, is charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon. The other two, Nixon and Dixon Azuaje Perez, were similarly released into the U.S. after crossing the border at Eagle Pass, Texas, in August 2023. All four men now face serious charges connected to gang-related violence in Aurora.
The arrests have sparked outrage among local officials and critics of the Biden administration’s handling of border security. Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky was vocal in her criticism, blaming the administration's "failure to secure the border" for allowing violent criminals like the Tren de Aragua members into the country. "The people of Aurora and other Americans have suffered at the hands of the Tren de Aragua gang," she said, reflecting a growing sentiment of frustration with the current immigration policies.
The presence of the Tren de Aragua gang in the U.S. is particularly troubling due to their involvement in a range of illegal activities, including drug and human trafficking. The gang’s reach and brutality have left communities like Aurora on edge, as residents contend with the growing impact of these dangerous foreign criminal organizations.
According to the House Committee on Homeland Security, there have been 7.8 million encounters with illegal aliens at the southern border since President Biden took office. The administration’s critics argue that the handling of these encounters has been inconsistent, leaving local communities vulnerable to violent criminals like those affiliated with Tren de Aragua. ICE continues to process cases on an individual basis, but the Aurora arrests have put a spotlight on the broader implications of the border crisis.