Immigrant care costs Denver $20 million

(Photo/Courtesy Regis University)

THIS AMOUNT COVERS THE COSTS UP TO JUNE 2023

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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At the regular meeting of the Denver City Council, the Budget and Public Policy Committee of that deliberative body released a 12-page document indicating that since last December 8, 2022, to date, Denver has helped 6,032 migrants, with a total spending of $8.9 million. More than 1,200 of those immigrants are still in the care of the city.

The authorities in charge of financial affairs of the city anticipate that between now and the end of June 2023, they must allocate between 8 and 11 million additional dollars to serve new immigrants. Those would be the necessary funds to cover the expenses of accommodation, food, transportation and health services for these and other immigrants who would arrive in the capital of Colorado.

Counting on refunds

In addition, according to the Committee on Budget and Public Policies, negotiations have already begun with private providers for aid programs for immigrants from June to December 2023. These agreements will not be final until the new budget is approved, which must wait until a new Denver mayor takes office in July.

The financial authorities’ estimates assume that Denver would receive a $2.5 million rebate from the federal government. The city requested another refund of $3.5 million from the Colorado government. Denver has not received a response yet. All other expenses for the care of migrants must be covered by the General Contingency Fund of the local budget, if approved by the Municipal Council.

What if the funds are not enough?

Faced with the possibility that Denver lacks sufficient funds to help all immigrants in need, the Church of God Ministry of Colorado announced that it will expand its program to offer “a safe place” to refugees and asylum seekers. This organization would be of great help because it has congregations distributed throughout the geography of Colorado.

Eddy Hopkins, pastor in charge of a church north of Denver, explained that the ministry has already directly helped 15 Venezuelans. Another 60 migrants, most of them from Venezuela, were also transferred to other churches to receive help. With the support of the ministry to which Hopkins belongs, the migrants obtained accommodation, clothing, transportation, education for children and job training for adults.

Legal support

Separately, the Colorado branch of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) indicated that it will work to provide legal support to migrants. AILA will collaborate with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to distribute approximately $100,000 in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations to provide legal assistance to indigent immigrants.

Invitation to debate

For its part, the Center for the Study of Western Civilization at the University of Colorado at Boulder convened a debate on the impact that the massive arrival of undocumented immigrants has on Colorado and the United States. The organizers of the debate that will take place on April 13 also seek to analyze the actions that the federal government should implement to handle the migrant crisis.