An empty elementary school in Denver, Colorado, is being considered for repurposing as a shelter for undocumented immigrants as city officials, led by Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston, seek solutions to address the growing influx of undocumented individuals in the sanctuary city.
Denver, recognized as a sanctuary city where local law enforcement refrains from enforcing federal immigration laws, has been surveying potential sites to establish emergency shelters, and the vacant school has emerged as a viable option.
A representative for Mayor Johnston indicated that while the school is being considered as a potential shelter for undocumented immigrants, no final decisions have been made and no official paperwork has been filed at this time.
During a press conference at the United States Capitol, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston addressed the migrant crisis and its impact on U.S. cities. Denver is currently developing contingency plans and has not yet decided on using school property owned by Denver Public Schools.
The possibility of converting the school into a shelter arises as Denver has seen a relatively low number of illegal immigrants seeking shelter, with only around 150 individuals utilizing the city’s shelter system in August, many of whom stayed briefly before moving on.
This development comes amid growing concerns about gang activity in parts of Denver and its suburbs, particularly involving Venezuelan gangs.
In a recent incident in the nearby suburb of Aurora, individuals believed to be associated with the Tren de Aragua gang were captured on film knocking on an apartment door, further exacerbating these concerns.
Despite the Aurora police’s efforts to minimize the gang’s influence by asserting that it has not seized control of the area, the incident has garnered considerable interest.
Former President Donald Trump asserted that Venezuelans were “dominating” Aurora, using the video as proof of a larger issue of gang activity associated with undocumented immigrants.
Trump: "Native-born Americans lost 1.3 million jobs while foreign born Americans were able to take all those jobs. We have millions of people pouring into our country. If you look at Aurora, Colorado, they're taking over the place. Our country is being invaded." pic.twitter.com/EJbK8hek2N
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 6, 2024
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman has addressed concerns about “criminal elements” seizing control of buildings and demanding money from residents, although he later admitted to being “unsure” about the accuracy of these allegations.
The discussion regarding crime related to illegal aliens and the allocation of city resources for the accommodation of illegal immigrants is taking place in Denver, a city with a population of over 400,000 that is striving to find a balance between safety and economic well-being.
Coffman has expressed disapproval of narratives that portray all of Aurora as dangerous, arguing that such perceptions are harmful to the city’s growth and economic prosperity.
Complicating matters are recent social media posts and unverified reports alleging that Venezuelan illegal aliens have taken over a school bus in San Diego and an apartment building in Chicago.
These incidents continue to fuel public concerns about illegal alien activities in urban areas.
As Denver officials consider the possibility of using a vacant school for housing illegal aliens, the city’s approach to managing the influx of undocumented immigrants and addressing associated security issues remains a highly debated topic of public interest.
Remember when the Gov of Colorado said migrant gangs taking over Aurora was a figment of your imagination?
Well Homeland Security confirmed the video of armed people taking over an apartment building are Venezualan gang members.
Dear Colorado residents, your governor hates you. pic.twitter.com/TjWXmRCLBD
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 1, 2024
