DENVER (KDVR) — The state is helping with the influx of migrants that have found their way to Denver by facilitating transportation to their final destinations.
Nearly 3,500 people, mostly from Venezuela, have landed in the Mile High City. The state said in a release Tuesday that about 70% of them are not staying in Denver. But due to the travel issues caused by weather and a lack of workers to help them get to where they’re going, they have had to extend their stay longer than anticipated.
The state said it is “working with culturally competent navigators to ensure that each individual is voluntarily making their own travel decision.”
Nonprofits with experience dealing with the Venezuelan community specifically are working with travel assistants to ensure the migrants get to their families/loved ones in other locations.
What Polis said about migrants coming to Colorado
No one should play politics with the lives of migrants who came here to escape oppression, and in Colorado, we are honoring our values of treating people with dignity and respect. We are simply carrying out our values of treating every human being with dignity and respect. Coloradans would expect nothing less from us to uphold our shared values to assist people fleeing oppression. The stories I’ve heard firsthand from migrants are heartbreaking and we are helping these individuals complete their long and arduous journey. States and cities cannot continue to bear this burden alone and Congress needs to finally step up – we need an immediate route to work permits, and to finally enact better border security and immigration reform.
Gov. Jared Polis
Colorado not alone in migrant influx
While Denver has experienced a significant spike in migrants coming to the city since last month, Colorado is not the only state dealing with this situation. A national park near Key West has been closed after 300 migrants showed up in boats. And another group was rescued by cruise ships off the coast of the Sunshine State.
Although the Florida coast is no stranger to incoming refugees, the latest increase has created a “crisis” situation for the Keys.
The city is holding a news conference Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the latest use of a $1.5 million grant it received for the emergency migrant response.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock released a statement on Tuesday in support of the efforts to help migrants:
Over the past month, more than 3,500 migrants and asylum-seekers have traveled to Denver from the southern border. Every day nearly twice as many new arrivals are coming to Denver than are leaving, and each night 1,800 migrants are being sheltered in our community. States and cities not on the border are ill-equipped to address these challenges, and absent federal support and leadership, we’re left to strategize and take actions to ensure this vulnerable population – people who’ve come here with no resources or means – are safe and treated humanely. I appreciate Gov. Polis and the State for leaning in to support those coming to our city to reach their preferred destinations, and to help reduce the number of people in our shelters and more quickly connect them with community supports and other options. I’ve talked with other mayors around the country and we’re united in our call for Congress to work with the Biden Administration to provide the assistance we need to manage this situation.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
How you can help
Donations can be made to the Denver Community Church, American Friends Service Committee or the Colorado Hosting Asylum Network. The city is also asking faith-based nonprofit groups and other community groups for help with the latest increase of migrants, financially and physically.
Anyone interested in volunteering needs to be registered and credentialed.
The city established a drop-off location for physical donations, run by Papagayo, at Iglesia Ciudad de Dios located at 5255 W. Warren Ave.