During his rally in Aurora on Friday, President Donald Trump made a pledge worth holding him to if he’s elected to another term. Congress and the president must put a stop to sanctuary cities.

Trump had no good reason to campaign in Aurora, given his near-zero chance of winning this state’s 10 electoral votes. He was there because of a video proved illegal immigrant gangs from Venezuela were invading Aurora apartments. That makes Aurora Exhibit A in the case against open borders.

Denver leaders long ago declared the city a “sanctuary” for illegals and forbade local law officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcers. As such, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sends migrants who cross into his state to Denver.

He should, because Denver welcomes them.

Denver’s economy dwarfs those of even the largest Texas border towns. That fact, plus the sanctimonious sanctuary welcome mat, explains why Denver has seen the arrival of some 50,000 “new arrivals” in the past two years at a cost of hundreds of millions to the public.

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This would be Denver’s problem alone, if the “new arrivals” did not migrate outside of Denver and cause problems for Aurora and other cities and towns throughout Colorado.

Because Denver cannot contain its migrant problem to Denver, federal lawmakers have reason to intervene.

They have additional reason when one considers the harsh effect of this invasion on Colorado’s most vulnerable residents, such as low-income households that are disproportionately composed of Blacks, Latinos and other minorities.

Talk to people in any community and one finds Coloradans struggling to keep roofs over their heads as inflation erodes their incomes.

We have Coloradans waiting months and more for disability, unemployment and nutrition benefits while social workers spread themselves thin trying to meet the immediate and long-term needs of migrants.

Outside of Colorado, in regions ravaged by hurricanes, people desperate to survive learn that federal emergency management funds — much of which have been spent on the migrant crisis — are tapped.

It is not possible for major cities to offer “sanctuary,” the way Denver has, without depriving Americans in need. Increasingly, Americans are discovering they have paid for government safety nets — programs that would help them in times of need — only to have the resources go to foreigners who have done nothing to fund them.

It is not only infuriating, but just plain wrong. Like taxation without representation, this is taxation without a return. It is robbing Peter to pay Paul, and Paul has no legal right to be here.

A host of reputable Republicans last year introduced the “Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act,” which would allow local cops to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Incredibly, Denver and Colorado sanctuary laws actively preclude them from doing so.

“This bill ensures these safe havens for dangerous criminals don’t receive certain taxpayer-funded grants, and I’m proud to support it,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

“When the whims of local politicians prevent law enforcement officers from doing their jobs, our communities are less safe and our nation’s rule of law is shortchanged,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Senate president pro tempore.

“City governments should not tie the hands of their law enforcement officers who are trying to comply with federal immigration law…”

This is well within the federal government’s appropriate scope, given that immigration is a federal responsibility.

Americans have rights to life, liberty and pursuits of happiness. All are jeopardized when local politicians virtue signal “sanctuary” and get what they ask for. To uphold our most basic federal rights, Congress and the president must put a stop to sanctuary policies that undermine federal law.

Denver Gazette Editorial Board