New Mayor Insists Denver is Not a Sanctuary City

The situation at the southern border continues to escalate, with a reported increase in the number of undocumented migrants being bused to Denver. Mayor Mike Johnson, has made it clear that this is not Denver's problem to solve alone.

The issue stems from Texas Governor Greg Abbott's decision to continue to transport migrants from the border to cities like Denver, despite the city's insistence that it is not a “sanctuary city.” This move has caused a major strain on the city's resources, with more than 10 buses arriving just last week and another four buses arriving this Tuesday alone.

Mayor Johnson addressed the city council Tuesday morning, stating that the number of migrants seeking shelter in Denver is on track to reach an "all-time high."

Since Johnston took office in mid-July, the number of migrants in city shelters has more than tripled, reaching 1,656 as of Monday. This has forced the city to declare a state of emergency in order to properly address this crisis.

While Johnson maintains that the city's systems are still working to manage the influx of migrants, he also stated that Denver cannot solve this issue alone. The city is currently seeking help from various government, nonprofit, and faith organizations, as well as reaching out to school districts for assistance.

In response to the situation, Governor Abbott's office directed the media to a statement posted on social media, where the governor declared his intention to continue sending migrants to sanctuary cities in order to ease the burden on border towns. This decision has caused some irony, as Colorado was recently under scrutiny for coordinating transportation for migrants to other states, including New York. However, state leaders clarified that those trips were not politically motivated and were done at the request of the asylum-seekers.

Denver has been a haven for asylum-seekers, providing shelter and support to over 19,000 individuals since the end of last year, with a total cost of $26 million to taxpayers. Currently, the city has only received about $4.4 million in reimbursement, with more expected from the federal government. However, the situation remains a financial burden on the city, and future expenses are expected.

Denver is among the cities that successfully lobbied President Biden's administration to grant temporary legal status to migrants and asylum-seekers from Venezuela. While this authorization provides assistance to a specific group, the strain on Denver's resources continues to grow. This temporary status does little to help the American taxpayer, since the distinction only allows these migrants in many cases to file for federal assistance.

Mayor Johnson's message to the city council was clear: Denver cannot solve this problem alone, and the city needs support from all levels of government. The situation at the southern border is not a local issue, and it is time for our leaders in Washington to take action and address this crisis head-on.