A group of illegal immigrants in Denver is refusing to relocate from a tent encampment to shelters unless Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston agrees to their list of 13 demands.
They are currently living in tents under a bridge and near train tracks as the Denver Human Services Department attempts to get them into city-funded migrant shelters, Fox 31 reported. The illegal immigrants, however, want the city to agree to numerous provisions for migrants staying in shelters, including allowing them to cook their own meals with “culturally appropriate ingredients provided by the City” and giving them free consultations with an immigration lawyer.
“[T]he City will provide on-going legal support in the form of immigration document clinics & including transportation to relevant court dates,” the list of demands states.
Jon Ewing, a Denver Human Services official, said the city is concerned about the migrants remaining in the encampment and being exposed to the elements.
“We’ve been offering time and shelter, basically just trying to get families to leave that camp and come inside,” Ewing said. “Which comes with three square meals a day. You can cook your own if you like to.”
Illegal immigrant advocate V Reeves said there isn’t enough food provided by the city in the shelters, and sometimes the food that is provided is “spoiled.”
“There have been so many complaints about the food being spoiled or not being enough and malnutrition amongst children,” Reeves said.
The advocate also said the migrants should receive “immigration document support” from the city. Reeves said it is “incredibly necessary for them to be able to navigate the bureaucracy around these systems.”
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According to Fox 31, the illegal immigrants’ list of demands are:
- Migrants will cook their own food with fresh, culturally appropriate ingredients provided by the City instead of premade meals – rice, chicken, flour, oil, butter, tomatoes, onions, etc… Also people will not be punished for bringing in & eating outside food.
- Shower access will be available without time limits & can be accessed whenever – we are not in the military, we’re civilians.
- Medical professional visits will happen regularly & referrals/connections for specialty care will be made as needed.
- All will receive the same housing support that has been offered to others. They cannot kick people out in 30 days without something stable established.
- There needs to be a clear, just process before exiting someone for any reason – including verbal, written & final warnings.
- All shelter residents will receive connection to employment support, including work permit applications for those who qualify.
- Consultations for each person/family with a free immigration lawyer must be arranged to discuss/progress their cases, & then the City will provide on-going legal support in the form of immigration document clinics & including transportation to relevant court dates.
- The City will provide privacy for families/individuals within the shelter.
- No more verbal or physical or mental abuse will be permitted from the staff, including no sheriff sleeping inside & monitoring 24/7 – we are not criminals & won’t be treated as such.
- Transportation for all children to & from their schools will be provided until they finish in 3 weeks.
- No separating families, regardless of if family members have children or not. The camp will stay together.
- The City must schedule a meeting with the Mayor & those directly involved in running the Newcomer program ASAP to discuss further improvements & ways to support migrants.
- The City must provide all residents with a document signed by a City official in English & Spanish with all of these demands that includes a number to call to report mistreatment.
Denver, a self-declared “sanctuary city,” announced budget cuts to police, sheriff, and fire departments last month to allocate more funding for illegal immigrants. The city is scrambling to shelter and provide for around 40,000 migrants who have arrived just in the past few months.
A poll released last month showed that Colorado voters are frustrated with the ongoing illegal immigration crisis under President Joe Biden, listing immigration as the top issue facing the country ahead of the 2024 election.
