Democratic Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado claimed on Sunday that the city of Aurora has “turned the corner” on crime despite reports of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua taking over an apartment complex. He suggested that Democrats should have an advantage on immigration issues.

Polis initially dismissed claims that Tren de Aragua had taken over the complex, labeling them as the product of a local leader’s “imagination.” He praised Aurora as a “diverse” city and noted a decline in crime over the past two years. “I went shopping in Aurora yesterday,” Polis said during an appearance on “Face the Nation.” “Violent crime is down two years in a row, car thefts are down two years in a row. It’s a wonderful city. I’m there all the time. It’s really a great, diverse city and it’s growing fast.”

He acknowledged that, like many cities, Aurora has faced gang issues but expressed optimism that the city has improved. House Republicans, however, attributed the situation to the Biden administration’s open-border policies.

Polis asserted that the Biden administration is attempting to address illegal immigration but placed some blame on Republicans for failing to support a bipartisan bill that combined foreign aid with border security. This proposed legislation faced opposition from Republicans, who argued it would create a “magnet” for future illegal immigration.

“[President] Joe Biden and [Vice President] Kamala Harris, Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress, had a real bill before them to make the needed investments in border security,” Polis stated. He expressed confidence in Harris’ ability to tackle border issues and emphasized the need for unity.

“I think it’s a great issue for people to run on and talk about, and it’s one that Democrats should have a huge advantage on,” Polis continued. He criticized Republicans for their repeated failures to secure the border.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), nearly 7.4 million illegal immigrants have been encountered since the start of fiscal year 2021. Tren de Aragua has been linked to serious crimes across the United States, including murder and kidnapping.