As the migrant crisis continues in Texas, buses of migrants made their way to Denver. The city has become a follow-on destination for the migrants who made their way to the United States from their country.
Denver has been a welcoming city but the number of migrants is starting to overwhelm the city and its resources.
The chief communication officer for the Coalition Cathay Alderman said:
"These individuals had Googled where they can get housing and health care services."
The migrants were checked by medical facilities for frostbite or hypothermia. Temperatures in Denver will drop to the low teens today and then the lowest will be in the 30s over the next few days.
"Our staff was really concerned about many of them who arrived in one layer of clothing or a t-shirt."
On Wednesday, Mayor Michael Hancock said:
“Not only are we worried about people being outdoors during this time but we are at a breaking point in terms of resources and ability to accommodate people.”
“So we’re all raising the red flag. That’s why we’re all talking to various counterparts across the country, as well as the White House and members of our Congressional delegation. It’s not just Denver. As the … arctic blast goes across the nation, cities like Chicago, New York, and Minneapolis, who are also seeing a surge of migrants, are also saying the same thing.”
Earlier this month, Mayor Hancock made an emergency declaration.
The current numbers…
The City of Denver reported these numbers on December 23, 2022:
- 168 migrants arrived overnight
- 1,791 total migrants the city has served since December 9
- 470 migrants are currently in the city emergency shelters
- 668 migrants are currently in partner emergency shelters
- 396 total individuals sheltered in warming centers
The city asks if you are a non-profit organization, church group, or private party you can assist by emailing donations@denvergov.org.
Options available in the city
With migrants continuing to arrive and homeless people on the street with the freezing temperatures, on Thursday at 7 am, the downtown YMCA, located at 25 E. 16th Avenue opened a 24-hour emergency shelter.
This past Wednesday afternoon, Denver provided a free bus from the Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St., to the coliseum.
Winter is only starting, and Mayor Hancock is asking for more federal support to assist the city help migrants.
How would you help the migrants arriving in Denver?
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