Denver Sent a Delegation to El Paso to say, “No Mas”

Axios reported that Denver Colorado sent two emissaries on a mission to El Paso. That mission: spread the word that Denver can’t take in more immigrants.

Two city officials traveled to Texas for a three day trip to deliver the message to 20 immigrant shelters.  Mayor Mike Johnstone had previously taken a very “arms wide open” policy toward immigrants. Johnstone’s policy would cost Denver as much as $180 Million per year and would require unpopular budget cuts that would slash services to Denver residents.

According to Denver’s NEW policy, newly arrived immigrants from the southern border would have only 72 hours to spend in the city’s sole congregant shelter for immigrants. After the 72 hours, they have to find other accommodations.

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Jon Ewing, spokesperson for Denver Human Services told Axios, “What we want them to know is when they arrive how long they actually will have in the shelter. We don’t want them to be caught by surprise.”

Ruben Garcia is the founder of Annunciation House, one of the largest shelters in El Paso. He told Denverite.com that Denver isn’t the first city to let El Paso know about a new policy switch. He said city employees from Chicago and New York have also gone down to Texas to “discourage people” from going to their cities.  “They’re basically saying…we’re not sure how much more we can offer you”, said Garcia.

You can say what you want about Greg Abbott’s migrant busing program. It’s mean-spirited. It’s dehumanizing to use people as political pawns. It might even be a form of human smuggling.

But it seems cities in other states are getting the message that Abbott has been sending through the bus program.