Housing advocacy groups and immigrants in Denver, Colorado, recently organized a protest against the city’s “inadequate” plan to provide 1,000 immigrants with six months of free housing and many other services. KMGH-TV report.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (Democratic) announced: immigration program last week to deal with an increase in migrant arrivals. More than 40,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in the city since December 2020.
The Mayor’s new Denver Asylum Seeker Program aims to provide a long-term solution to addressing the city’s immigration crisis. It will provide 1,000 migrants with six months’ worth of rent, food assistance, and job training.
Migrants arriving in Denver after April 10 will be required to leave the city’s shelters after 24 to 72 hours. They will then be “provided with assistance to secure short-term accommodation at the meeting point and transportation to another destination.” Previously, migrants could stay in shelters for two to six weeks.
In addition to the new immigration program, Johnston also announced significant budget cuts, including an $8.4 million cut to the Denver Police Department’s budget, a $3.8 million cut to the Sheriff’s Office budget, and a $2.4 million cut to the Fire Department’s budget. . daily mail report.
“We’re going to take all of the people who are in the shelter tonight and allow them access to that program right away. They’re going to be first in line for that program,” Johnston said at a press conference Wednesday. ” he said.
“It will be around 1000. [people] “That will be incorporated into the program as we launch the program in the next few days,” he continued.
Housing advocacy group House Keys Action Network Denver argued that the mayor’s plan would force immigrants to “fend for themselves after 24 to 72 hours,” KMGH reported.
The group called the program “a slap in the face and a period of aggression.”
“I don’t think that’s enough,” immigrant Willy Bastidas told the press.
“The mayor does not represent us. He needs to listen to us and work with us to find better solutions,” Bastidas added.
Denver Human Resources spokesperson John Ewing told KMGH, “Denver has never turned anyone away and never will. We will continue to encourage new arrivals to the city to stay in the city.” “We will provide temporary shelter to give them space and help them get to their destination.” We will continue to feed family, friends, and other support networks and address immediate medical concerns, but we will serve those currently in our care in a much more substantial way than ever before. We need to move to a long-term model that provides We believe the Denver Asylum Seeker Program will do just that. ”
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