Exclusive Cell Phone Video Reveals Denver Official Urging Migrants to Leave
Written by: Joe Gomez
In a shocking video obtained exclusively by 9News, Denver's Newcomer Communications Liaison, Andres Carrera, is heard telling a group of newly arrived migrants that the "opportunities are over" for them in Denver.
Carrera, who also serves as Mayor Mike Johnston's political director, can be seen and heard making candid remarks, urging the migrants to seek better prospects in other cities.
As the 9News clip continues, Carrera can be heard telling the group in Spanish, "New York gives you more. Chicago gives you more. So, I suggest you go there where there is longer-term shelter. There are also more job opportunities there."
The emergence of this video should come as no surprise to those who have been paying attention to Denver's current predicament.
With over 40,000 migrants arriving in Denver in less than a year, city officials are grappling with the challenge of providing support to both the new arrivals and the taxpaying residents. The city is struggling with skyrocketing rents and a shortage of housing, further exacerbating the situation.
Denver, a self-proclaimed sanctuary city, has made efforts to find shelter for the migrants, facilitate their children's enrollment in schools, provide emergency food assistance, and assist them with paperwork.
Now, in a controversial move, Denver has even offered to cover the cost of onward bus fare to their destinations of choice, a decision that has faced criticism from other cities also grappling with the migrant crisis.
The migrants seen in the exclusive 9News video arrived in Denver on March 26 on a bus organized by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, according to a city spokesperson.
Some of these migrants may have undertaken a significant portion of their journey on foot, according to the reporting of 9News.
In the video, Carrera can be heard telling the migrants, "You don't have to walk anywhere, we can buy you a free ticket. You can go to any city. We can take you up to the Canadian border, wherever!"
READ MORE:
DENVER'S IRRESPONSIBLE SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES STRAIN RESOURCES AND TAXPAYER FUNDS
COLORADO DEMOCRATS' PUSH FOR STATE-FUNDED MIGRANT SUPPORT SYSTEM RAISES CONCERNS
NEW REPORT RECOMMENDS EXPENSIVE MEASURES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS AT DPS
Denver has already allocated more than $60 million to aid the migrants, and officials are now considering budget cuts to sustain the assistance. Churches and nonprofits have hastily formed a coalition to provide support, but several surrounding cities have declined to assist or accept migrants.
In January, Mayor Mike Johnston stated that the city was on track to spend 10% of its entire annual budget on aiding migrants, although plans have since been scaled back.
Are you enjoying THE LOBBY? Our stories are only possible because of generous contributions from our readers. Please consider chipping in today. Thank you!