Denver has started evicting migrants from its shelter system as it tries to scale back on the money it is spending to manage the influx of illegal migrants. As a result, about 140 migrant families have been ejected from temporary accommodations in the city. City officials expect to remove approximately 660 more families over the next few weeks.
Since Texas has been transporting thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities like Denver, the city has been struggling to stretch its limited resources. The city is trying to support its growing population while caring for its citizens’ needs.
Denver’s Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, said the city is at total capacity. He claims the city’s shelters are overcrowded, and its hospitals are overrun. Hence, Denver state officials are limiting the amount of time migrants can stay in state-provided rooms.
This development ensures the city can accommodate the daily influx of illegal migrants still arriving there. “We have filled every single hotel room that we have available in the city and county of Denver,” Johnston said during a town hall meeting.
ALSO READ: Texas Woman and Infant Son Dies in Tragic House Fire
“Now we have the terrible decision that if we don’t start exiting folks, we will have 250 folks that will arrive today or the day after who don’t have anywhere to go at night.” Therefore, Johnston said the city was close to breaking point due to the crisis.
The city has reportedly supported about 38,380 migrants from the southern border. It has also spent over $42 million. Due to the freezing weather, the town paused shelter exits earlier this year. However, due to limited space and timing, the city will begin to exit migrants from shelters to accommodate newly arrived migrants.
Denver passed laws to become a sanctuary city, but these laws don’t include a right-to-shelter provision. This means that no official policy compels the local government to provide shelter indefinitely. Denver revealed in a press release that the influx of migrants is straining capacity.
Also, officials said this could force the city to cut as much as $180 million from its annual budget. Moreover, this will cause the city to spend more on migrants than capital projects. Consequently, the city is helping migrants leave by purchasing bus tickets. Denver has bought over 2,000 tickets so far, sending migrants to other cities within the U.S.
ALSO READ: Florida Extradites California Teen Who Allegedly Charged $75 To Call In Hoax Bomb Threats
The migrant crisis has also put the city’s healthcare system at a breaking point. About 8,000 migrants recorded nearly 20,000 visits to Denver Health last year, receiving emergency room treatment, primary care, dental care, and childbirth services.
These visits totaled the system of being in debt by about $22 million. Yoli Casas of the nonprofit ViVe Wellness said the number of migrants arriving in the city is unprecedented. Through ViVe Wellness, Casas is helping the city address the migrant crisis.
“We have never seen so many people come,” Casas said. She said she had to tell many people who had nowhere to go that we were full. “There’s just no more space,” She added.
You Might Also Like:
Court Sentences Illinois Man to Prison for Attempting To Set Abortion Clinic Ablaze
Company To Pay 65-Year-Old Woman $105,000 in Back Pay and Damages for Firing Her
Taylor Swift Takes Legal Action Against Florida Student Tracking Her Jet
Grieving Mum Demands Stronger Protection for Kids After Son’s Tragic Drug-Related Death
