Migrants in Denver issue list of demands to city before clearing encampments

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE CITY OF DENVER CLEARED OUT TWO MIGRANT ENCAMPMENTS LOCATED NEAR DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, UNDER A BRIDGE, NEAR TRAIN TRACKS WEDNESDAY.

THE LAND IS PRIVATELY OWNED BY RAILROAD COMPANY UNION PACIFIC. 

THE DENVER GOVERNMENT PETITIONED FOR THE MIGRANTS TO MOVE TO CITY-RUN SHELTERS FUNDED BY THE CITY.

BUT MIGRANTS STAYING AT THE ENCAMPMENTS – HAD PREVIOUSLY SENT A LIST OF DEMANDS TO MAYOR JOHNSTON – SAYING THEY  WOULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE CITY MET THEIR REQUIREMENTS. 

SOME OF THE MIGRANT DEMANDS INCLUDED: ALLOWING MIGRANTS TO COOK THEIR OWN FOOD, ACCESS TO SHOWERS WITHOUT A TIME LIMIT, REGULAR DOCTORS VISITS WITH REFERRALS TO SPECIALIZED CARE, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, AND TRANSPORTATION.

MIGRANTS ALSO ASKED THE CITY TO PROVIDE FREE IMMIGRATION LAWYERS … AMONG OTHER DEMANDS.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR DENVER HUMAN SERVICES TOLD THE LOCAL FOX AFFILIATE: “AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE DO NOT WANT IS FAMILIES ON THE STREETS OF DENVER.” 

THAT SAME DHS SPOKESPERSON SAID – THAT MIGRANTS WHO STAY AT CITY RUN SHELTERS ARE OFTEN WORKING TOWARDS RECEIVING A WORK PERMIT – HOWEVER – THE MIGRANTS AT THE ENCAMPMENT DO NOT RECEIVE THOSE SAME BENEFITS.

ABOUT 100 MIGRANTS ACCEPTED THE CITY’S OFFER TO MOVE TO CITY SHELTERS WEDNESDAY AND THE ENCAMPMENTS WERE CLEANED OUT.

IT’S UNCLEAR THOUGH – IF THE MIGRANTS DEMANDS WERE MET.

ACCORDING TO MAYOR JOHNSTON’S OFFICE, DENVER HAS SERVED MORE THAN 40-THOUSAND MIGRANTS AT A COST OF MORE THAN $68-MILLION IN THE LAST 17 MONTHS. AND APPROXIMATELY HALF THAT COST — $35-MILLION – WAS SPENT BETWEEN DECEMBER 2023 AND MARCH OF THIS YEAR.