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THE WHISPER GAME – EPISODE 2

MATEO: THE DISPATCH CALL CAME IN AT 4:31 AM ON THE MORNING NIXON WAS ARRESTED FOR PICKING UP SPENT BULLET CASINGS. SHOTS FIRED.

NIXON: PUES YO ESTABA EN EL FRENTE DE MI APARTAMENTO. ESTABA CON MI HERMANO, ESTÁBAMOS AHÍ CON UNA AMIGA TAMBIÉN. 

MATEO: AURORA POLICE WOULDN’T GIVE ME THE 9-1-1 CALLS WHEN I ASKED FOR THEM BECAUSE THE CASE WAS STILL PENDING. BUT ACCORDING TO NIXON’S ARREST AFFIDAVIT, MULTIPLE CALLERS REPORTED A GROUP OF PEOPLE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER ALONG THE FIRST, THIRD, AND FOURTH FLOORS.

NIXON: Y SE ESCUCHABA COMO PEGABAN LOS DISPAROS ASÍ EN FREN– COMO EN FRENTE DE LA, DE, DE LOS APARTAMENTOS, ASÍ: PA, PA, PA. 

MATEO: NIXON AND DIXON’S APARTMENT WAS ON THE THIRD FLOOR. NUMBER 311.

NIXON: Y SE CAÍAN PEDAZOS DE LADRILLOS ASÍ EN EL PISO. 

MATEO: NIXON COULD HEAR THE BULLETS BOUNCING OFF THE COMPLEX WALLS. PIECES OF BRICK WERE EXPLODING AND FALLING ONTO THE FLOOR. NIXON RUSHED BACK TO HIS APARTMENT FOR COVER.

NIXON: PERO ANTES DE ENCERRARNOS, O SEA, NOSOTROS VIMOS LOS CASQUILLOS DE BALAS QUE ESTABAN AHÍ ENFRENTE. 

MATEO: BUT BEFORE HE SHUT HIMSELF IN, HE SAW THE BULLET CASINGS. SITTING THERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS APARTMENT DOOR.

NIXON: POR INSTINTO, NOSOTROS DIJIMOS: “VAMOS A LANZAR ESO PARA ABAJO, ESTE, NO, VA A VENIR LA POLICÍA, NOS VA A CULPAR A NOSOTROS, ESTÁN EN FRENTE DEL APARTAMENTO”. ENTONCES, LOS LANZAMOS PARA ABAJO. YO LE DIJE: “VAMOS A LANZARLOS”, Y LO LANZAMOS.

MATEO: “KIND OF ON INSTINCT WE SAID, ‘LET’S THROW THOSE DOWN THERE BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AND THEY ARE GOING TO BLAME US,” NIXON SAID. “SO WE THREW THEM DOWNSTAIRS.”

NIXON WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING TO THE SOUND OF A VOICE COMING THROUGH A LOUDSPEAKER.

NIXON: ÉL ME DESPIERTA. ME DESPIERTA Y ME DICE QUE NOS VAN A ALLANAR EL APARTAMENTO, 

MATEO: APD OFFICERS HAD ARRIVED AT LA NOME. “WHOEVER IS IN APARTMENT 3-11 – COME OUT!”

NIXON: HABÍAN DICHO QUE SALIERAN LOS DEL APARTAMENTO TRES, TRESCIENTOS ONCE. ENTONCES, ERA EL APARTAMENTO DE NOSOTROS Y VAN A ALLANARLO.

MATEO: NIXON SAID COPS HAD THEIR GUNS DRAWN ON HIM WHEN HE WALKED OUT. “BUT WHAT DID WE DO?” HE ASKED.

NIXON: EL POLICÍA DIJO ALGO ASÍ COMO QUE U-UN MEXICANO QUE VIVÍA ABAJO LE HABÍA DICHO ALGO ASÍ LE, LES HABÍA DICHO QUE NOSOTROS HABÍAMOS LANZADO ESO PARA LA PLANTA BAJA.

MATEO: AN OFFICER TOLD HIM THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVED DOWNSTAIRS – A MEXICAN GUY – HAD SHOWED THEM A VIDEO OF NIXON CLEANING UP THE SPENT BULLET CASINGS.

NIXON:  ÉL DIJO QUE NOSOTROS ESTÁBAMOS CUBRIENDO A LA PANDILLA, ALGO ASÍ,

MATEO: THE ARREST AFFIDAVIT ALSO SAYS THAT AFTER WATCHING SECURITY FOOTAGE, THE AUTHORITIES BELIEVED THAT NIXON AND DIXON WERE INTENTIONALLY PICKING UP SHELL CASINGS TO COVER FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING. THE BROTHERS WERE BOOKED IN ADAMS COUNTY JAIL FOR TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE IN CONNECTION WITH AN ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE.

MARIA: FROM FUTURO MEDIA —IT’S LATINO USA, I’M MARIA HINOJOSA.

MATEO: AND I’M MATEO SCHIMPF.

MARIA: TODAY: THE WHISPER GAME, A SERIES ABOUT A YOUNG MIGRANT, AN INTERNATIONAL GANG, AND HOW AURORA, COLORADO, BECAME A TEST CASE FOR TRUMP’S MASS DEPORTATION CAMPAIGN. TODAY’S EPISODE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN LATINO USA, COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO, AND FUTURO INVESTIGATES. THIS IS PART TWO OF A THREE-PART EPISODE SERIES. A YOUNG MAN IS ACCUSED OF BEING A MEMBER OF AN INTERNATIONAL GANG. BUT THE EVIDENCE IS QUESTIONABLE.

MUSIC

MARIA: SOMETHING ELSE WAS HAPPENING ON THE DAY THAT NIXON WAS ARRESTED. AND IT WOULD PUT HIM ON A DIRECT COLLISION COURSE WITH THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AMBI

MARIA: IT’S JULY 28TH, 2024. ACROSS VENEZUELA, PEOPLE FILED INTO POLLING STATIONS, READY TO CAST THEIR VOTE FOR THE COUNTRY’S NEXT PRESIDENT. THAT HAD VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS BACK IN AURORA, COLORADO FEELING HOPEFUL. MANY OF THEM LEFT THEIR HOME COUNTRY BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT MADURO’S FAILED LEADERSHIP. A VICTORY FOR HIS OPPONENT COULD MEAN THEIR EVENTUAL RETURN HOME, MAYBE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. SO THESE VENEZUELANS IN COLORADO GATHERED AT A TARGET PARKING LOT TO WATCH THE RESULTS. FIRST, BY THE HUNDREDS. AND THEN BY THE THOUSANDS. THEY WAVED THEIR COUNTRY’S FLAG AND HELD SIGNS THAT SAID THINGS LIKE, “LIBERTAD SIN DICTADURA.” THE MOOD WAS LIVELY, BUT IT WAS ALSO A LITTLE CHAOTIC.

ARCHIVAL – NEWSCASTER: THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF SHOTS BEING FIRED BUT AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE SHOOTING INTO THE AIR. NOW SOME BUSINESSES NEARBY HAVE CLOSED FOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS…

MARIA: AND SO IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG BEFORE PEOPLE STARTED POSTING THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

ARCHIVAL – INSTAGRAM CLIP: N**** THE VENEZUELANS IS TAKING OVER. THEY JUST JACKED HIM?

MARIA: THAT INCLUDED CITY COUNCILWOMAN DANIELLE JURINSKY, WHO YOU HEARD FROM IN THE LAST SEGMENT. SHE’S THE ONE WHO BERATED DENVER’S MAYOR FOR PLACING MIGRANTS AT A HOTEL IN AURORA.

THE MORNING AFTER THE CELEBRATION, JURINSKY WROTE A LENGTHY POST ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE. IT CHRONICLED THE GATHERING FROM HER PERSPECTIVE: SHOPPING CENTERS INVADED. PEOPLE TRAPPED IN THEIR CARS. REPORTS OF ASSAULTS AND THEFT. A POLICE CAR SHOT UP. JURINSKY KNEW THIS, SHE SAID, IN PART, BECAUSE OF HER RELATIONSHIP WITH OFFICERS ON THE FORCE. AND SHE SAID THAT THEY’D BEEN CALLING HER THE NIGHT OF THE CELEBRATION TO TELL HER ABOUT ALL OF THIS. BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY ADDED A POST TO ITS OFFICIAL X ACCOUNT. AND IT DENIED ANY CLAIMS OF RIOTERS AND DAMAGE CAUSED TO PROPERTY. AND NO – THE DEPARTMENT’S POST SAID – THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THE GATHERING WAS ORGANIZED BY A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION. APD THEN SIGNED ITS POST, HASHTAG-FACT-CHECK.

ARCHIVAL – JURINSKY:  I THINK THIS WAS A TEST. 

MATEO: JURINSKY WAS UNCONVINCED.

ARCHIVAL – JURINSKY:  THEY’RE HERE. WE KNOW THEY’RE HERE. 

MATEO: THIS IS HER AT A PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE PARKING LOT GATHERING.

ARCHIVAL – JURINSKY:  WE THINK THIS WAS A TEST. AND  THEY ESSENTIALLY GOT AWAY WITH IT

MATEO: AURORA MAYOR MIKE COFFMAN TRIED TO JUMP IN.

ARCHIVAL – COFFMAN: WELL I THINK–

ARCHIVAL – JURINSKY:  WE CAN DOWNPLAY THIS ALL WE WANT, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS JUST WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT OUR OPINIONS ARE NOT UP FOR DEBATE // THERE IS A GANG PROBLEM. A HUGE GANG PROBLEM THAT APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND, AND, AND, AND AREAS OF OUR CITY ARE BEING TAKEN OVER. THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE…

MATEO: MEANWHILE, LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS WERE REACHING OUT TO AURORA CITY OFFICIALS ABOUT A TIP: “HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY REPORTS FROM TENANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT THE TREN DE ARAGUA GANG?” A PRESS RELEASE FROM A PR FIRM CALLED RED BANYAN HAD STARTED GOING AROUND. IT READS: “AN APARTMENT BUILDING AND ITS OWNERS IN AURORA, COLORADO HAVE BECOME THE MOST RECENT VICTIMS OF THE VENEZUELAN GANG TREN DE ARAGUA’S VIOLENCE, WHICH HAS TAKEN OVER SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN THE DENVER AREA. THE RELEASE GOES ON TO DESCRIBE AN ATMOSPHERE OF CHAOS AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES. QUOTE, “CBZ MANAGEMENT, A REPUTABLE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRM THAT OWNS SEVERAL OF THESE PROPERTIES, IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS CRISIS.” CBZ MANAGEMENT. THE SAME COMPANY THAT OWNED LA NOME. THE CRUMBLING BUILDING WHERE NIXON AND DIXON LIVED. IN AN INTERNAL EMAIL, ONE PERSON FROM THE CITY’S MARKETING DEPARTMENT WROTE: “THIS IS ASTONISHING. CBZ HIRED A PR FIRM??”

MARIA: IT’S HARD TO OVERSTATE THE SPEED AT WHICH ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING. BASICALLY, OVER THE COURSE OF TWO MONTHS THERE WAS THE STOLEN PROPERTY REPORT FROM THE OWNERS OF LA NOME… THE SHOOTING… THE TARGET PARKING LOT ELECTION CELEBRATION… AND THE ALLEGED TAKEOVER OF A U.S. CITY BY AN INTERNATIONAL GANG, TREN DE ARAGUA. BUT ALL OF THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

ARCHIVAL – TRUMP AT RNC: BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND YOU’RE SEEING IT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME

MARIA: THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WAS IN FULL SWING DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024.

ARCHIVAL – TRUMP AT RNC: THAT’S WHY TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES SAFE THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM PROMISES TO LAUNCH THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

MARIA: THAT’S THEN-CANDIDATE TRUMP SPEAKING AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE. HE’S STILL WEARING A BANDAGE OVER HIS EAR FROM THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN PENNSYLVANIA JUST DAYS EARLIER. AND HE WAS ABOUT TO GET ONE OF HIS SIGNATURE TALKING POINTS FOR NOVEMBER. HE TOOK IT FROM ANOTHER COMPLEX IN AURORA OWNED BY CBZ MANAGEMENT… NOT FAR FROM LA NOME.

ARCHIVAL – FOX31 EDGE AT LOWRY: NEW VIDEO SURFACING TODAY SHOWING A HUGE PROBLEM WITH WHAT SOME ARE CALLING GANG VIOLENCE AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN AURORA. 

MARIA: THE VIDEO OF THIS OTHER BUILDING SHOWS ARMED MEN MARCHING UP THE STAIRS AND BANGING DOWN THE DOOR. THIS EXPLODED THE INTERNET. HERE’S FOX NEWS HOST SANDRA SMITH A DAY AFTER THE VIDEO HIT LOCAL NEWSCASTS.

ARCHIVAL – FOX NEWS, SANDRA SMITH: YOU LOOK AT THAT VIDEO AND WOW – IS THERE SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THAT CITY. IN THAT TOWN. I MEAN AURORA JUST OUTSIDE OF DENVER THERE. PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE SEEING. I MEAN THEY’RE RANSACKING THE TARGET STORES THERE. BUSINESSES FEEL TARGETED. AND I’VE WORKED THE PHONES THIS WEEK TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME ON TO TALK ABOUT IT. NO ONE THERE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT. WHY? THEY FEAR THEY WILL BE TARGETED BY THESE GANGS.

MARIA: AT THE END OF THE TV SEGMENT, A GRAPHIC FLASHES ONTO THE SCREEN: “TREN DE ARAGUA THREAT.” IT LINKED THE GANG TO MORE THAN A HUNDRED CRIMES IN THE U.S. AND ALLEGED THAT ITS LEADERS HAD BEEN GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO OPEN FIRE ON COPS. THE GAME OF TELEPHONE WAS NOW EXPANDING, UNCONTROLLABLY. IT WASN’T JUST LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO WERE WHISPERING THE NAME, TREN DE ARAGUA. NOW THAT NAME – THOSE THREE WORDS – WERE PASSING THROUGH THE MOUTHS OF POLITICIANS. THROUGH NATIONAL MEDIA. AND WITH EVERY MENTION, IT BECAME HARDER FOR NIXON TO DISTANCE HIS NAME FROM THE GANG.

MUSIC

MARIA: COMING UP ON LATINO USA… HOW A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TRAINS ITS EYES ON AURORA, COLORADO…AND SAYS THIS SMALL CITY IS A HUB FOR VENEZUELAN GANG MEMBERS. BUT IS ANY OF IT TRUE?

ARCHIVAL – ANDREA SAENZ: ONE QUESTION WOULD BE, IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT, DID IT COME FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL OR DID IT COME STRAIGHT FROM DHS, RIGHT?

MARIA: STAY WITH US, NO TE VAYAS.

BREAK

MARIA: IT’S LATINO USA, I’M MARIA HINOJOSA.

MATEO: AND I’M MATEO SCHIMPF, A PRODUCER FROM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO.

MARIA: BEFORE THE BREAK, ACCUSATIONS WERE RUNNING RAMPANT AGAINST VENEZUELAN MEN WHO LIVED IN A HOUSING COMPLEX IN AURORA, COLORADO. AND NOW, EVEN TRUMP DECIDED TO JUMP IN AND PILE ON…

ARCHIVAL – TRUMP AT WISCONSIN RALLY: IN AURORA, COLORADO, ENTIRE APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE BEING TAKEN OVER BY ARMED VENEZUELAN GANGS, WITH WEAPONS THE LIKES OF WHICH EVEN THE MILITARY DOESN’T EVEN SEE.

MATEO: IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR THE RUMORS ABOUT TREN DE ARAGUA TO REACH PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THIS IS FROM A RALLY IN WISCONSIN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.

ARCHIVAL – TRUMP AT WISCONSIN RALLY: THEY ARE TERRORIZING RESIDENTS AND MENA- THEY ARE JUST MENACING THE WHOLE STATE.

MATEO: BACK IN AURORA, MAYOR MIKE COFFMAN COULD SENSE THE POT WAS ABOUT TO BOIL OVER AND RELEASED A STATEMENT: TREN DE ARAGUA HAD NOT TAKEN OVER THE CITY. HE EVEN GOT COUNCILWOMAN JURINSKY TO SIGN ON. BUT BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. CANDIDATE TRUMP ANNOUNCED HE WAS COMING TO AURORA. AND JURINSKY HAD EARNED HERSELF A PRIME SLOT.

ARCHIVAL – JURINSKY, AURORA RALLY: I’VE SAID IT ONCE, I’LL SAY IT AGAIN. THE DEMOCRATS DIDN’T REALIZE THAT IT WAS GONNA BE LITTLE OLD ME – OUT OF AURORA, COLORADO – THAT EXPOSED THE BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!

MATEO: JURINSKY SPENT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WARMING UP THE CROWD AT THE GAYLORD ROCKIES RESORT IN AURORA BEFORE GIVING WAY TO THE PRESIDENT.

ARCHIVAL – TRUMP AT AURORA RALLY: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP.

MUSIC

ARCHIVAL – TRUMP AT AURORA RALLY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYBODY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK IN THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE WITH THOUSANDS OF PROUD, HARDWORKING AMERICAN PATRIOTS, THAT’S WHAT YOU ARE.

MARIA: TRUMP APPEARED ON STAGE NEXT TO GIANT MUGSHOTS OF VENEZUELAN MEN IN ORANGE JUMPSUITS. ABOVE EACH OF THEIR PHOTOS WERE THE WORDS: “OCCUPIED AMERICA. TDA GANG MEMBERS IN AURORA.”

ARCHIVAL – TRUMP AT AURORA RALLY: I’M ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT UPON TAKING OFFICE WE WILL HAVE AN OPERATION AURORA AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO EXPEDITE THE REMOVALS OF THESE SAVAGE GANGS… AND I WILL INVOKE THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT OF 1798 – 1798, THINK OF THAT – 1798, THAT’S A LONG TIME AGO, RIGHT? TO TARGET AND DISMANTLE EVERY MIGRANT CRIMINAL NETWORK OPERATING ON AMERICAN SOIL.

MARIA: AT THAT POINT, BASICALLY NO ONE OUTSIDE OF U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND HISTORIANS HAD EVEN HEARD OF THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT. IT’S VERY OLD, AND VERY OBSCURE. SO TRUMP DECIDED TO GIVE THINGS A CATCHIER, MORE MODERN NAME: OPERATION AURORA.

MUSIC

MARIA: WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

ARCHIVAL – SWEARING IN – PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME, I DONALD JOHN TRUMP DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR // I DONALD JOHN TRUMP DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR // THAT I WILL

MARIA: DONALD TRUMP WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WAS OFFICIALLY SWORN IN ON JANUARY 20TH, 2025. THREE DAYS LATER, THE FBI CAME OUT WITH A REPORT ABOUT TREN DE ARAGUA… SAYING NICOLÁS MADURO HAD ACTUALLY BEEN DIRECTING THE GANG TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE U.S. THE FBI KNEW THIS; THAT SAME REPORT SAID, WITH MEDIUM CONFIDENCE. PLAUSIBLE, IN THEIR WORDS, BUT NOT OF SUFFICIENT QUALITY TO BE FACT. MEANWHILE, NIXON’S LEGAL SITUATION WAS GETTING MURKIER.

MATEO: HE AND DIXON HAD BONDED OUT OF JAIL SHORTLY AFTER THEIR ARREST. BUT THAT DIDN’T MEAN THEY WERE FREE. THE BROTHERS WERE AMBUSHED BY ICE AGENTS AT A LOCAL PROBATION OFFICE WHERE THEY HAD GONE TO GET THEIR ANKLE MONITORS CHECKED OUT. THAT KICKED OFF THE BEGINNING OF THEIR DETENTION AT AN ICE FACILITY IN AURORA CALLED GEO, NAMED AFTER THE PRIVATE COMPANY THAT RUNS IT.

NIXON: A ELLA YO LE PREGUNTABA SIEMPRE, PUES QUE QUÉ VA A PASAR CON MI CASO, Y ELLA ME DECÍA QUE SÍ, QUE ME IBA A AYUDAR, QUE ME IBA A AYUDAR, PERO NUNCA VI ESA AYUDA. 

MATEO: ACCORDING TO NIXON, HIS CRIMINAL LAWYER KEPT TELLING HIM THAT THE DA DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM ON THE TAMPERING CHARGE. THAT SHE WAS GONNA HELP HIM. BUT, “THAT WE HAD TO WAIT,” HE SAID. “THAT SHE WAS WORKING ON IT.”

MATEO: I TRIED REACHING OUT TO HIS LAWYER ABOUT THIS BUT NEVER HEARD BACK. FOR NIXON, THOUGH, IT MEANT HIS COURT DATES KEPT GETTING POSTPONED.

NIXON: CUANDO SE ME VINO LA CORTE DE NUEVO, ME FUERON A BUSCAR DE NUEVO Y AHÍ SÍ ME DEJARON DOS MESES ALLÁ EN EL CONDADO DE ADAMS.

MATEO: EVERY TIME NIXON HAD A COURT DATE IN ADAMS COUNTY, FOR PICKING UP THE SPENT BULLET CASINGS, HE’D GET PULLED OUT OF IMMIGRATION DETENTION AND TAKEN TO THE LOCAL JAIL. NIXON HATED JAIL. THE FOOD WAS TERRIBLE. NOBODY SPOKE SPANISH. AND SO AFTER A LONG STAY THERE BETWEEN COURT DATES – TWO MONTHS – NIXON SAID, “YOU KNOW WHAT, I’D RATHER GO BACK TO IMMIGRATION DETENTION. TO GEO.”

NIXON: Y CUANDO LLEGO A GEO ME METEN EN, EN UN CALABOZO PEQUEÑO, PUES DE UNA SOLA CAMA, AISLADO, PUES EN LA ISLA, QUE SUPUESTAMENTE ESTABA EN INVESTIGACIÓN POR EL TREN DE ARAGUA Y TODO ESO

MATEO: THAT DIDN’T TURN OUT WELL. WHEN HE GOT BACK TO GEO, GUARDS TOOK HIM TO THE “HOLE”: AN ISOLATED ONE-BED CELL. THEY PUT HIM THERE, HE SAID, BECAUSE HE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BEING A MEMBER OF TREN DE ARAGUA.

NIXON: YO MANDABA REQUESTS QUE SIEMPRE, SIEMPRE MANDABA REQUESTS QUE POR QUÉ A MIGRACIÓN, 

MATEO: NIXON SAID HE KEPT FILLING OUT THESE REQUEST FORMS WHILE HE WAS IN GEO.

NIXON: POR QUÉ YO ESTABA AHÍ Y POR QUÉ SI YO NO ERA NINGÚN PARTICIPANTE DE NINGUNA PANDILLA NI NADA. Y SI, SI, SI, SI LO SOY, QUE VENGAN Y ME LO CONFIRMAN…

MATEO: ON A LITTLE SHEET OF PAPER HE’D WRITE, “WHY AM I HERE IF I WASN’T INVOLVED WITH A GANG? AND IF I AM, SHOW ME THE PROOF. NIXON NEVER GOT THAT PROOF AND – ADMITTEDLY – IT’S BEEN HARD TO COME BY. THAT SURPRISED ME. I JUST FIGURED THAT IF LAW ENFORCEMENT TRULY THOUGHT HE WAS A MEMBER OF TDA, THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE. BUT ICE DENIED MY REQUEST FOR EVIDENTIARY MATERIAL REGARDING NIXON’S GANG AFFILIATION.. THE DENVER FIELD OFFICE DIRECTOR WOULDN’T EVEN MEET ME FOR A CUP OF COFFEE. I ASKED THE DA’S OFFICE IN ADAMS COUNTY. THEY PASSED, AND REFERRED ME TO THE AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT. APD TOLD ME THEY NEVER FULLY VETTED HIM AS A MEMBER OF THE GANG. I CALLED UP A FORMER IMMIGRATION JUDGE AND ATTORNEY ABOUT ALL THIS. HER NAME IS ANDREA SAENZ. WORKED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN NEW YORK. AND SHE’D REPRESENTED A LOT OF YOUNG MEN FROM CENTRAL AMERICA WHO’D BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING MEMBERS OF THE SALVADORAN GANG, MS-13.

ANDREA SAENZ: IT COULD HAVE BEEN LIKE ANY ONE OLD PERSON IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT NIXON IS, HIS NAME IS A GANG MEMBER, AND THEY TYPE IT INTO THE DATABASE AND IT GETS PORTED OVER TO DHS’S ACCUSATIONS ABOUT HIM AND NEVER COMES OUT LIKE NOBODY INVESTIGATES IT.

MATEO: THE AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE, HAD PUT NIXON’S MUGSHOT UP ON ITS WEBSITE… SAYING THEY’D ARRESTED A SUSPECTED TDA MEMBER. MAYBE AN OFFICER SIMPLY TYPED HIS NAME INTO A GANG DATABASE… AND THE LABEL STUCK THERE, FOREVER. OR MAYBE THERE WERE OTHER WAYS, AND OTHER REASONS.

ANDREA SAENZ: ONE QUESTION WOULD BE. IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, DID IT COME FROM THE, THE LOCAL LEVEL OR DID IT COME STRAIGHT FROM DHS? RIGHT?

MATEO: IT FELT LIKE A GOOD PERSON TO ASK… WAS SOMEONE WHO TALKED TO A LOT OF COPS.

MARIA: WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK, NO TE VAYAS

BREAK

MARIA: IT’S LATINO USA. I’M MARIA HINOJOSA.

MATEO: AND I’M MATEO SCHIMPF, A PRODUCER FROM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO.

MARIA: LET’S CONTINUE WITH OUR STORY.

JURINSKY: WHEN I MADE NOISE ABOUT THAT MASS GATHERING IS WHEN THE AURORA POLICE OFFICERS CAME FORWARD AND SAID, “YOU NEED TO KNOW WHO IS HERE. 

MATEO: A LOT’S CHANGED FOR CITY COUNCILWOMAN DANIELLE JURINSKY SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2024. FOR STARTERS, SHE’S NOW FORMER CITY COUNCILWOMAN JURINSKY. SHE LOST HER RE-ELECTION BID LAST YEAR.

JURINSKY: THERE’S A GANG HERE CALLED TREN DE ARAGUA THAT IS TAKING OVER APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN AURORA, 

MATEO: AND SHE NOW OWNS ONLY ONE BAR, INSTEAD OF FOUR. THAT’S WHERE I MET UP TO TALK WITH HER. IT WAS AROUND 10 AM ON A SATURDAY AND SHE WAS BUSY POURING BEERS FOR A HANDFUL OF REGULARS, WHO – SOMEWHAT AWKWARDLY – WERE SITTING ON BARSTOOLS RIGHT NEXT TO ME. JURINSKY SAID SHE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHE STARTED HEARING FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS. THEY WERE TELLING HER ABOUT HOUSES… IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS… THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD 20 TO 30 PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM.

JURINSKY: WE STARTED SEEING A LOT OF THE WINDOW WASHERS // IN THE CITY WHICH WE HADN’T REALLY SEEN IN AURORA OR DENVER EVER.

MATEO: OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS, JURINSKY BECAME CONVINCED THAT BOTH THE CITY AND APD LEADERSHIP WERE COVERING UP INFORMATION ABOUT TREN DE ARAGUA.

JURINSKY:  IT WAS THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES, BUT IT WAS RANK-AND-FILE OFFICERS // WHO STARTED CALLING ME AND VERY DISCREETLY SAYING, “LISTEN,” YOU KNOW. AND I KNEW ANY ONE OF THEM COULD LOSE THEIR JOB FOR TALKING TO ME // AND OFFICERS OBVIOUSLY COULDN’T JUST GO TALK TO THE MEDIA, SO THAT’S WHERE I JUST TOOK A LOT OF HEAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE TOP BRASS SAYING, “THIS ISN’T TRUE,” AND THE RANK-AND-FILE GUYS CAN’T SAY ANYTHING.

MATEO: WERE THE RANK AND FILE GUYS, WERE THEY NAMING TREN DE ARAGUA SPECIFICALLY?

JURINSKY:   YES.  I BELIEVED THEM BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY OF THEM TELLING ME THIS.

MATEO: I THOUGHT MAYBE RANK-AND-FILE OFFICERS WERE ALSO TELLING HER ABOUT NIXON. I ASKED HER. AND MENTIONED THAT APD TOLD ME THEY’D NEVER FULLY VETTED HIM AS A MEMBER OF TDA. SHE ROLLED HER EYES AT ME.

JURINSKY:  HE WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS. 

MATEO: YOU THINK? 

JURINSKY:  I, I KNOW HE WAS. 

MATEO: NIXON? 

JURINSKY:   YES. 

MATEO: HOW DO YOU KNOW? 

JURINSKY:  TH- THAT’S WHAT THE POLICE TOLD ME. THEY KNOW. THEY ALL KNOW. 

MATEO: DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT EVIDENCE THAT YOU SAW OF HIS LEADERSHIP?

MATEO: IT’S A LITTLE HARD TO HEAR WHAT I’M SAYING – THE TVS AND MUSIC WERE BLARING – BUT I’D JUST ASKED HER, “DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT EVIDENCE YOU SAW OF HIS LEADERSHIP?”

JURINSKY:  WELL, WHAT THE POLICE TOLD ME IS IT WAS HIM AND HIS BROTHER WHO WERE PRETTY MUCH, LIKE, RENTING APARTMENTS, TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY OWNED APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

MATEO: WHAT YOU PROBABLY COULD’VE MADE OUT IN THAT EXCHANGE IS MY SHOCK. I’D BEEN KEEPING AN OPEN MIND ABOUT NIXON’S TDA AFFILIATION. I EVEN HAD SOME OF MY OWN QUESTIONS. BUT A LEADER? OF THE GANG? AFTER ROUGHLY A YEAR OF REPORTING, THAT WAS A FIRST. I PULLED UP A PICTURE OF HIS MUGSHOT BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE’D MADE A MISTAKE. WE COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME GUY.

JURINSKY: NO, IT, THEY’RE, IT’S THE BROTHERS I’M THINKING OF. 

MATEO: NIXON AND DIXON? 

JURINSKY:  NIXON AND DIXON. 

MARIA: PRESIDENT TRUMP EVENTUALLY DELIVERED ON OPERATION AURORA WHEN HE INVOKED THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT… SENDING NIXON AND 237 OTHER VENEZUELAN MEN TO EL CENTRO DE CONFINAMIENTO DEL TERRORISMO. BETTER KNOWN AS CECOT.

DREW ENSIGN: THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT HAS ONLY TWO RELEVANT PREREQUISITES HERE, BOTH OF WHICH RELY SOLELY ON THE PRESIDENT’S FINDINGS IN THE REALM OF MILITARY CONDUCT AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS, WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS DUE THE UTMOST DEFERENCE.

MARIA: THAT’S THE DOJ ATTORNEY DREW ENSIGN ARGUING ON THE PRESIDENT’S BEHALF IN JUNE OF 2025.THE ACLU SUED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER ITS USE OF THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT NOT LONG AFTER NIXON ENDED UP IN CECOT.

DREW ENSIGN: IT’S ESTABLISHED AND NOT DISPUTED THAT TDA IS PRESENT IN OVER 40 STATES IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT IS AN EXTREMELY BROAD. PHYSICAL PRESENCE. IT’S ALSO ESTABLISHED THAT THEY’VE TAKEN OVER ENTIRE APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN WHICH THEY EXERCISE CONTROL AND ARE ESSENTIALLY A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES.

MARIA: THE ADMINISTRATION SPENT MORE THAN A YEAR TRYING TO WIN OVER FEDERAL JUDGES. THE GOVERNMENT LOST ITS FIRST BOUT IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  BEFORE ASKING THE CASE TO BE REHEARD A FEW MONTHS LATER. NIXON WAS SWEPT INTO THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF HIS ALLEGED TIES TO TREN DE ARAGUA. BUT HIS DEPORTATION ACTUALLY CAME THROUGH A DIFFERENT CHANNEL. A FINAL REMOVAL ORDER FROM AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE.

NIXON: CUANDO ME LLEGA LA CORTE, YO LE PIDO LA DEPORTACIÓN A LA JUEZA. 

MARIA: NIXON HAD SPENT MONTHS PURSUING A LEGAL PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS UNDER 21. BUT IT’S A NOTORIOUSLY LONG AND COMPLICATED PROCESS.

NIXON? Y PORQUE, O SEA, TANTO TIEMPO YO ESPERANDO LA CORTE, YO EN– NOSOTROS EN SÍ ÍBAMOS A PELEAR EL CASO, YO IBA A APELAR POR MI CASO MIGRATORIO, MI ESTATUS MIGRATORIO, YO LO IBA A APELAR.

MARIA: HE WAS WORN DOWN FROM ALL THE WAITING. THERE WAS NO CLEAR END IN SIGHT. FOR NEITHER HIS CRIMINAL CASE NOR HIS IMMIGRATION CASE. WHEN NIXON’S NEXT COURT DATE CAME UP AT GEO, HE TOLD THE JUDGE, “I JUST WANT TO GO HOME. TO VENEZUELA.”

NIXON:  LA JUEZA ME PREGUNTÓ: “¿ESTÁ SEGURO USTED DE QUE QUIERE LA DEPORTACIÓN?” SI…

MARIA: THE JUDGE GRANTED HIS REQUEST FOR REMOVAL. BUT – AS YOU MAY RECALL – THE U.S. DIDN’T HAVE DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH VENEZUELA AT THE TIME. IT’S NOT LIKE PLANES WERE LEAVING FROM DENVER TO CARACAS. INSTEAD, NIXON WOULD SOON BE ON HIS WAY TO EL SALVADOR.

MARIA:  THE DETENTION FACILITY WAS CRAWLING WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. ICE. HSI. DEA.

NIXON: Y TOMAN FOTOS, TOMAN FOTOS CON DRON, HELICÓPTERO Y TODO. TODA UNA PELÍCULA AHÍ.

MARIA: “THEY WERE TAKING PICTURES,” HE SAID. “WITH DRONES. HELICOPTERS. IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE MAKING A WHOLE MOVIE OUT THERE.”

NIXON: EN CADA ASIENTO DE POR MEDIO HABÍAN U– OFICIALES DE MIGRACIÓN, HABÍAN DOS, TRES OFICIALES DE MIGRACIÓN. 

MARIA: THE NEXT DAY, WHEN THEY FINALLY BOARDED THE PLANE, NIXON SAID EVERY OTHER SEAT HAD AN IMMIGRATION AGENT IN IT. THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO OPEN THE WINDOW SHADES. WHEN HE ASKED THE OFFICERS WHERE THEY WERE GOING, THE AGENTS TOLD HIM IT WAS A SURPRISE.

NIXON: Y NOS DECÍAN QUE ERA UNA SORPRESA, UNA SORPRESA. 

MARIA: AND “THAT WE SHOULD RELAX,” HE SAID. “THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF US.”

NIXON: Y CUANDO VA ATERRIZANDO EN EL SALVADOR NOSOTROS SENTIMOS LA TURBULENCIA DE QUE VA A ATERRIZAR EL AVIÓN Y ALZ– LEVАН-LEVANTAMOS ASÍ LA, LA VENTANA DEL AVIÓN. 

MARIA: NIXON SAYS THERE’S TURBULENCE WHILE THE PLANE IS GETTING READY TO LAND FOR A SECOND TIME.  SO HE IS ABLE TO CRACK OPEN THE WINDOW SHADE JUST A BIT, HOPING TO GET A PEEK.

NIXON: Y CUANDO LEVANTAMOS LA VENTANA DEL AVIÓN DECÍA AEROPUERTO INTERNACIONAL SAN SALVADOR.

MARIA: AND HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE OUT A SIGN. SAN SALVADOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

NIXON: Y HABÍAN BASTANTES SALVADOREÑOS EN EL AVIÓN Y PENSAMOS QUE IBAN A DEJAR LOS SALVADOREÑOS NADA MÁS, PORQUE EMPEZAN BA– EMPIEZAN BAJANDO LOS SALVADOREÑOS PRIMERO, POR NOMBRE. 

MARIA: “OK,” HE THINKS. WELL “THERE ARE SALVADORAN GUYS ON THE PLANE. MAYBE THEY’RE JUST LETTING THEM OFF.” AND HE’S RIGHT. AGENTS START CALLING OUT NAMES OF SALVADORAN MEN, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

NIXON: Y DE REPENTE NOS EMPIEZAN A SACAR UNO POR UNO A LOS VENEZOLANOS. 

MARIA: BUT THEN, THEY BEGIN CALLING THE NAMES OF VENEZUELAN MEN. AND NIXON SAYS SOME OF THE VENEZUELANS TRY TO RESIST BUT IT’S POINTLESS. ONE BY ONE, WITH THEIR HEADS PUSHED DOWN, ICE AGENTS LEAD THEM OFF THE PLANE.

MATEO: IN OUR FINAL EPISODE OF THE WHISPER GAME, WE GET CLOSER TO THE TRUTH ABOUT WHETHER NIXON WAS A PART OF TREN DE ARAGUA…

JOHN:  NO, I DO BELIEVE HE WAS TDA // WE, WE DON’T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM VENEZUELA TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK AND SAY, “THESE GUYS ARE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, HARDCORE TDA GANG MEMBERS.”

MARIA: BEFORE WE GO AND FIND OUT FOR OURSELVES.

MARIA: IT IS JULY 7TH, 2026, AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO MEET NIXON. 

MATEO: WE TRAVEL TO TRUJILLO, PERU, TO MEET NIXON IN PERSON. THAT’S ON THE FINAL EPISODE OF THE WHISPER GAME.

MARIA: THIS EPISODE WAS REPORTED AND PRODUCED BY MATEO SCHIMPF AND MYSLF, EDITED BY LAURA PEREZ, WITH EDITORIAL SUPERVISION BY PENILEY RAMIREZ AND EDITORIAL SUPPORT BY MEGAN VERLEE FROM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO. OUR FIELD PRODUCER IN PERU WAS MILAGROS SALAZAR WITH CONVOCA PERU

THE WHISPER GAME IS A PRODUCTION OF FUTURO INVESTIGATES IN COLLABORATION WITH COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO.

IT WAS MIXED BY MATEO SCHIMPF.

FACT-CHECKING BY ROXANA AGUIRRE

FERNANDA ECHAVARRI IS OUR MANAGING EDITOR.

NANCY TRUJILLO IS OUR PRODUCTION MANAGER.

SPECIAL THANKS TO… RACHEL ESTABROOK WITH THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD AND CHUCK MURPHY WITH COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO.

THE LATINO USA TEAM ALSO INCLUDES:

JULIA CARUSO, REBECA IBARRA, REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR., STEPHANIE LEBOW, GLORIMAR MARQUEZ, JULIETA MARTINELLI, JJ QUERUBIN, AND LEVI SHARPE

PENILEY RAMIREZ AND I ARE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

I’M YOUR HOST MARIA HINOJOSA.

“LATINO USA IS PART OF I-HEART’S MY CULTURA PODCAST NETWORK. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AT IHEART ARE LEO GOMEZ AND ARLENE SANTANA.

JOIN US AGAIN ON OUR NEXT EPISODE AND IN THE MEANTIME, LOOK FOR US ON ALL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

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CIAO!

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