Screenshots / YouTube, Next 9NEWS, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

A recent video obtained by a local Denver television station has sparked controversy and raised questions about the city's capacity to accommodate newly arrived illegal immigrants amidst growing concerns about resource scarcity.

The footage, captured by NBC affiliate KUSA, features Denver's Newcomer Communications Liaison and political director for Mayor Mike Johnston, Andres Carrera, addressing a group of recently arrived illegal immigrants at a local shelter.

In the video, Carrera can be seen delivering a stark message, informing the migrants that Denver is unable to provide further assistance due to resource constraints.

Denver, grappling with a surge in illegal immigration, has implemented strict limits on the duration of stay for newly arrived migrants in city shelters: two weeks for individuals and six weeks for families with children. Carrera's remarks, captured on video, include an offer to provide free bus tickets paid for by the city to help the migrants reach other destinations, including cities near the Canadian border.

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“The opportunities are over. New York gives you more. Chicago gives you more. So I suggest you go there where there is longer-term shelter. There are also more job opportunities there,” Carrera said to the group in Spanish.

“We have received too many migrants and that is why we ran out of resources,” she added. “We are not going to block you if you want to say here…If you stay here you are going to suffer even more and I don’t want to see this.” 

Carrera's impassioned pitch to the migrants to leave Denver is met with little enthusiasm, as evidenced by the muted reaction in the video.

Despite offering alternative destinations such as Chicago, New York, and Miami with purportedly more resources and Spanish speakers, Carrera receives minimal response from the crowd.

When Carrera asks who wants to travel to different cities for potential employment opportunities, the lack of enthusiasm is palpable.

The underlying reasons for Denver city officials urging illegal immigrants to relocate to other cities are multifaceted. Denver has become a magnet for illegal immigrants, taking in more per capita than any other city not situated along the U.S. southern border.

The city, however, is grappling with budget cuts totaling approximately $120 million, further straining its ability to provide resources for this population.

Amidst the backdrop of escalating illegal immigration across the southern border, sanctuary cities like Denver are facing mounting challenges in accommodating the influx of migrants. Once staunch advocates for welcoming individuals into the country illegally and resisting cooperation with federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), these cities are now confronting the harsh realities of resource scarcity and overcrowding.

The plea for migrants to consider relocating to other cities like New York and Chicago underscores the strain on resources and the need for alternative solutions. However, the reluctance of migrants to leave Denver suggests that simply redirecting them to other cities may not be a viable long-term solution.

As sanctuary cities across the United States grapple with similar challenges, there is growing recognition that simply shifting the burden elsewhere may not alleviate the underlying issues.

The reluctance of migrants to leave Denver, coupled with the broader context of sanctuary cities struggling to accommodate the influx of illegal immigrants, underscores the need for comprehensive solutions that address the root causes of migration while balancing the concerns of local communities and the welfare of those seeking refuge.