Donald Trump Demands Death Penalty For Migrants Who Murder US Citizens, Proposes 'Operation Aurora'

During a rally in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday, Donald Trump depicted migrants as dangerous criminals, calling for the death penalty for migrants who kill US citizens, in a further escalation of the anti-immigration rhetoric that has characterised his presidential campaign.

Standing alongside posters of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Trump also announced that, if elected, he would initiate a nationwide "Operation Aurora" to target gang members.

Photo Credit: PTI

The Republican presidential candidate has notably intensified his anti-immigration stance in the final weeks leading up to the November 5 election, where he is competing against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, reported re.

Illegal immigration remains a key concern for voters, and opinion polls suggest that Trump is viewed by most as the candidate best equipped to tackle the issue.

"I'm hereby calling for the death penalty for any migrant that kills an American citizen or a law enforcement officer," Trump declared, to loud applause from the gathered crowd of supporters.

Trump has already proposed expanding the death penalty to other offences, including for those convicted of sex trafficking women and children.

Although nearly half of US states prohibit the death penalty, there is a federal death penalty, though it is rarely applied, according to the Death Penalty Information Centre, a non-profit organisation. Any expansion of the death penalty for additional crimes would require approval by the U.S. Congress.

A key feature of Trump's third presidential bid has been his emphasis on what he terms "migrant crime", despite academic studies showing 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 on Trump's death penalty proposal.

Vice President Harris, who adopted a more stringent position on border security after becoming the Democratic nominee in August, has criticised Trump for hindering a bipartisan border security bill in Congress earlier this year.

Spotlight on Aurora

During a presidential debate with Harris on 10th September, Trump claimed that members of Tren de Aragua controlled several run-down apartment complexes in Aurora-allegations that local officials have denied.

At Friday's rally, Trump reiterated his promise to focus enforcement on Aurora if re-elected.

"I will rescue Aurora and every town that has been invaded and conquered," Trump said. "We will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail or kick them out of our country."

Despite Trump's dramatic assertions aimed at energising his supporters, no American town has been overtaken by migrants.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a Republican, stated ahead of the rally that "concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated" and invited Trump to tour the city.

According to statistics from the Aurora Police Department, major crimes in the city have decreased year-on-year.

V Reeves, a community organiser with the Housekeys Action Network, said local residents were anxious about Trump's visit.

"They're worried about Trump supporters showing up and threatening them," Reeves said.

At two of the apartment buildings at the centre of the controversy, Reuters observed broken windows and litter on Thursday. One building had temporary police camera stations, which residents said had been installed earlier that week.

Jesus, a 30-year-old Venezuelan who works in landscaping and resides in one of the buildings, expressed frustration that all Venezuelans were being blamed for the actions of a few.

"We are not all bad people," said Jesus, who declined to provide his surname.

The dispute over gang activity in Aurora arose after the city took steps to pressure the owner of several apartment complexes, where many migrants resided, to address issues such as repairs, rubbish, pest infestations, and other complaints.

In early August, a public relations firm hired by the landlord, CBZ Management, claimed that Tren de Aragua gang members had taken over the properties, according to documents obtained by Reuters via a Colorado Open Records Act request.

CBZ Management did not respond to requests for comment.

The allegations gained national attention in late August when footage of armed men at one of the apartment complexes went viral.

Cindy Romero, a former resident at the complex, captured the footage with her two security cameras. Speaking at the rally on Friday, she revealed that she had been a lifelong Democrat but now intended to vote for Trump due to her experience with crime.