Thread: Colorado City Halts Funding For Migrants

Colorado City Halts Funding For Migrants




Story by Nick Mordowanec • 41m


February 27, 2024








Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra walks home with her three American-born children on May 21, 2011 in Aurora, Colorado. Vizguerra is facing deportation to Mexico and is scheduled for a final hearing July 13 at Denver's Federal Courthouse.© John Moore/Getty Images



Officials in Aurora, Colorado, have halted financial assistance for migrants, blaming the state and federal government for a lack of funding.

Aside from border states such as Texas, Arizona and California, Colorado has borne the brunt of undocumented individuals entering the country.

State capital Denver has received more migrants per capita than any other U.S. city not bordering Mexico, spending more than $58 million to support over 38,860 migrants, of which an estimated $12 million will be reimbursed by the federal government.

The state and U.S. Department of Homeland Security have provided just over $5 million.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, has previously sympathized with Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott over pleas for assistance from the Biden administration to properly address surging numbers of migrants.

He said earlier this month that the city was running "out of space" and money to deal with over 38,000 individuals seeking housing and other assistance. The city only has enough contingency funds available until April, officials added.

On Monday, the city council in Aurora, just east of Denver, voted 7-3 to approve a resolution disallowing the bussing of migrants and those experiencing homelessness into the city.

Newsweek reached out to the mayor, city council and other officials via email for comment.

The resolution was amended before the vote, removing a provision that would have allowed the city to accept migrants if a financial agreement was reached beforehand, according to local ABC affiliate Denver 7 News.

Officials, who introduced the resolution on February 16, cited the financial obligations associated with what has become a growing problem of concern across the country.

"We want to simply let our residents know that although we are empathetic towards the plight of such folks, we cannot host them out of pure reality and our financial situation," said Councilman Steve Sundberg.

He said the resolution largely mirrored what officials in Colorado Springs relayed earlier this year.

They, along with officials from El Paso County, were blunt about not being designated as a sanctuary city—saying that the Federal Government must do more to intervene, adding that decisions would be "guided by fiscal responsibility, adherence to legal frameworks, and an unwavering commitment to residents".

The Aurora resolution prevents organizations from bringing migrants within city limits "without an agreement to address the financial impact and coordination of services." No public funds, services or staff resources will be allotted for migrant support.

"Colorado Springs did this five weeks ago," Sundberg said. "We were called racist for doing it. But they didn't attack Colorado Springs or their mayor for doing the exact same thing. They didn't touch the busing part of it.

"But they came to the realization that their budget is finite, and so is ours. We're not going to work against nonprofits. We want them to do the work that they're cut out to do and fundraise for it."

In May 2017, Aurora passed a resolution declaring it was not a sanctuary city.

Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky, who co-sponsored the resolution alongside Sundberg, said Aurora should not be held responsible for addressing the issue—in part calling on statewide officials, such as Democratic Governor Jared Polis, and the federal government to do their parts.

"Immigration is not a local issue," Jurinsky said. "Immigration is a federal issue and a state issue. [We're] putting pressure on our governor to show up and even make a statement about this crisis. This does not fall on your local city council to handle immigration."

She also said that Aurora would not mimic what Johnston and officials in Denver have done, spending money on migrant resources while budgets for services and recreation decrease.

A spokesperson for Polis referred Newsweek to recent statements made by Polis on the migrant surge at the southern border.

On Fox News Sunday, Polis told anchor Shannon Bream that it is not a partisan challenge "but an American challenge". He said that Congress needs to fund additional Border Patrol agents and other funding mechanisms.

"Of course when people are entering illegally and we fail to lock down that southern border because Congress can't act, of course it will increase the demand for housing and that only adds to the cost of housing in communities across the country," said Polis, adding that his state has reduced time for permits and is building additional housing.

On Tuesday while at the White House, Polis told Forbes that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris "really sought to elevate the concerns that we face in the field every day." He said that included immigration and the administration's plans moving forward, but did not provide specific details.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/co...88da8b4f&ei=25

They have not gone before a Judge; they are not here legally, and they should get absolutely nothing.

So, they take billions from us in housing, school, healthcare, social services and are subsequently ordered removed...are they paying us back our tax dollars? NO!

No illegal alien shall collect ANY taxpayer funded benefits on behalf of minor, whether that minor is a US citizen or otherwise. Deport them with their anchor rats and end birthright citizenship scam. They do not leave their offspring here like a box of unwanted puppies and the illegal parents cannot stay!