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Woman passionately sings anthem during Trump rally
Donald Trump is detouring from the battleground states Friday to visit a Colorado suburb that’s been in the news over illegal immigration as he drives a message that migrants are causing chaos in smaller American cities and towns, often using false or misleading claims to do so. During the rally, a prayer was said along with a passionate rendition of the national anthem.
AURORA, Colo. - Donald Trump visited Aurora, Colorado on Friday, focusing his rally on immigration. He accused migrants of creating chaos in small towns, drawing applause from supporters and criticism from local officials.
Trump has long made immigration a core issue and used a recent incident involving Venezuelan migrants in Aurora to argue that President Biden and Vice President Harris are failing to protect Americans from immigration challenges.
"They're ruining your state," Trump told the crowd, blaming the White House for what he described as a breakdown in safety and order in towns like Aurora.
FILE-Donald Trump is shown with an American flag in the background. (Getty Images)
Trump’s controversial claims and local backlash
At the rally, Trump claimed Venezuelan gangs had "invaded and conquered" parts of Aurora, and announced "Operation Aurora," a plan to deport members of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang.
Local authorities disputed Trump’s claims, stating that a previous incident involving armed men was isolated and resolved. Rep. Jason Crow and other Democratic leaders accused Trump of exaggerating the issue for political gain, calling his statements "a lie."
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Immigration remains central to Trump's 2024 campaign
Trump renewed his pledge to launch the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, targeting both criminal migrants and Haitians with Temporary Protected Status. He also reiterated plans to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens from nations the U.S. is at war with.
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HHM: Economic impact of Hispanics & immigrants in the U.S.
According to academic research at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, available evidence suggests that immigration leads to more innovation, a better educated workforce, greater occupational specialization, better matching of skills with jobs, and higher overall economic productivity. In this Hispanic Heritage NOW report, host Carel Lajara explores the topic with Dr. Ernesto Castaneda, the Director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University.
Trump’s fiery rhetoric, which included referring to migrants as "animals" and calling for the death penalty for migrants who kill Americans, was met with thunderous applause from his supporters.
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Despite these statements, some residents, like Jodie Powell, a Republican from Aurora, pushed back on the idea that gangs had overtaken the town. "That’s not the case," Powell said, while also noting concerns over crime she associates with newcomers.