Migrants move to the streets after time at Denver shelters expires
Masses of migrants are taking to the streets of Denver after their time at the city’s shelters has expired.
Non-resident families and individuals alike are being forced to fend for themselves as city shelters reach their limit due to an “unprecedented” influx of migrants.
Freiman Esescorcia and his wife Naidelis, who hail from Colombia and Venezuela, arrived in Denver a month ago. They have been staying at a shelter on Speer Boulevard and Zuni Street in the Highland neighborhood, but their time there is quickly coming to an end.
“We’ve been in Denver approximately a month – that’s the time they’ve given us to stay here,” expressed Freiman in Spanish. “When your time is up, they kick you out. There's no help when you get out."
In October, the city of Denver was forced to adjust the length of time migrants can stay in city shelters due to the overwhelming number of migrants seeking shelter. Adult migrants with no children are allowed to stay for only 14 days, while those with children are granted up to 37 days.
This has left many families, like Freiman and Naidelis, on the brink of homelessness. Naidelis is even seven months pregnant, and because of the weak southern border, are now on the brink of homelessness.
Despite the pressing need for assistance, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, along with the mayors of Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York, have sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking for federal help to manage the surge of migrants arriving in their cities.
The letter states, “Our cities need additional resources that far exceed the amount proposed to properly care for the asylum seekers entering our communities. Relying on municipal budgets is not sustainable and has forced us to cut essential city services.”
In response to the influx of migrants, the city of Denver has activated two overnight shelters at the New Directions Ballroom and the Denver Coliseum.
As the city’s dashboard reports, 137 migrants arrived on Thursday and 84 on Friday. Overall, the city has provided shelter and support for 28,161 migrants, at a cost of $32 million.
READ MORE:
U.S. CITIES SPENDING MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SHIP MIGRANTS OUT
COLORADO SCHOOLS ARE STRAINED WITH HUGE INFLUX OF MIGRANT CHILDREN
This is a significant strain on the city’s resources and highlights the urgent need for assistance.
It’s obvious that President Biden must act and secure the southern border to prevent human tragedies like the ones we are seeing playout in Colorado.