Aurora Delays Discussion of Anti-Immigrant Measure

INVOLVED WITH THE RESOLUTION | Danielle Jurinsky and Steve Sundberg are the sponsors of the resolution which seems to have garnered the support of Mayor Mike Coffman. (Picture/El Comercio de Colorado)

PROMOTERS REMOVE THE PROPOSAL FROM THE FEBRUARY 26 CITY COUNCIL MEETING’S AGENDA.

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman announced that the proponents of the resolution limiting circulation and services to immigrants, councilors Danielle Jurinsky and Steve Sundberg, will not present it for discussion at the upcoming regular session of the Colorado municipal chamber on Monday, February 26. “They have withdrawn the resolution, so it will not be presented at our next city council meeting,” wrote Mayor Coffman , who reportedly supported the proposal of his colleagues Jurinsky and Sundberg.

At the time of publication, we were unable to obtain further details on whether Jurinsky and Sundberg have abandoned seeking approval for this proposal. Thus, we do not have the arguments that may have led them to make that decision, nor is it known if this proposal would have garnered the necessary votes for approval by the chamber. It cannot be ruled out that it is merely a suspension of the presentation to improve the wording of the resolution. During the session on February 16, Jurinsky reacted upon hearing critical questions from councilor Curtis Gardner.

Gardner, who, like Jurinsky, is a Republican and a member of the Federal, State, and Intergovernmental Committee, voted against his colleague’s proposal. Gardner indicated that the resolution sends contradictory messages about what services could be provided to immigrants. “When calling 911, should the fire department verify someone’s immigration status before providing life-saving medical care?” he asked.

No Possibility of Enforcement

Jurinsky defended the resolution by saying that people should use common sense. The councilor defended the resolution when faced with Gardner’s questions about whether the resolution could be applied and if offenders could be penalized in any way. George Koumantakis, the city’s lawyer, indicated that there was no “enforcement mechanism” because this was not an ordinance, only a resolution.

This prompted a heated response from Jurinsky, who immediately said that there is an enforcement mechanism that she has discussed with Aurora police lawyer Pete Schulte. “If we have to go this route, we will,” she said. “The bus driver who physically enters the city of Aurora and drops off migrants could be fined.” During the committee discussion, it was raised that the resolution would have implementation problems.

Reaction from the Village Exchange Center

Amanda Blaurock, CEO of the Village Exchange Center, expressed concern about elements of the resolution. “The draft resolution as it is currently written has some troubling elements that will effectively make it more difficult for nonprofit organizations serving new immigrants in Aurora to continue providing those services,” Blaurock says.

This executive highlights a critical component of this proposal. “[The resolution] would require city officials and nonprofit organizations to request immigration status before providing services. A practice that has long been extinguished in the city of Aurora,” she added. Blaurock is committed to working with the city council to reach an accurately reflecting resolution.

“I believe its intention is to hinder the transportation or large-scale placement of new immigrants in Aurora by cities and states without an intergovernmental agreement and funding to support placement. If given the opportunity, I intend to do everything I can to work with council members and reach a resolution that accurately reflects what I believe is their intention,” said Blaurock.

Awaiting

Representatives from other nonprofit organizations are waiting to see if there will be another proposal from Jurinsky and Sundberg. The Migrant Response Network, an alliance of organizations serving migrants in the city of Aurora, hopes to be able to converse in the coming days to find out in detail whether there will be a new attempt at a resolution that could affect the work of pro-immigrant organizations in Aurora.

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