A recently obtained footage reveals that a Denver official has advised new migrants in the city to consider moving to New York or other cities in the United States. The official warned that if they chose to remain in the Colorado capital, they would “endure even greater hardships.”
In a video obtained by 9 News and aired over the weekend, city worker Andres Carrera delivered a clear message to a group of migrants staying in a shelter: Denver simply doesn’t have the resources to support them any longer, and the opportunities have come to an end.
Carrera reportedly assured the group that arrived in Denver on March 26, saying in Spanish, “We won’t stop you from staying here… I want you to know that your journey isn’t over.”
“I don’t want to witness you suffer even more if you choose to stay here.”
According to a 9 News clip, Carrera, the city’s new communication liaison, acknowledged that the city had been overwhelmed with migrants, resulting in resource depletion.
Instead, he provided migrants with the opportunity to board a city-funded bus and travel to other destinations, including the bustling metropolis of New York City, which has also faced challenges in accommodating a significant influx of migrants.
“New York and Chicago offer greater opportunities,” Carrera, who also serves as the political director for Mayor Mike Johnston, noted. “I recommend considering these cities for longer-term housing options and a wider range of employment prospects.”
“You don’t have to walk anywhere; we’ll purchase you a free ticket. You can travel to any city. Carrera reportedly informed the gathering, “We can take you up to the Canadian border, wherever.” However, the city stressed to the station that it would only drive migrants near the northern border, not over it.
Denver keeps individual migrants for two weeks and migrant families with children for six weeks before pushing them out of shelters due to potential budget cuts, according to the station.
For more than a year, major cities across the country have been dealing with a border-crossing crisis.
Since August 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has frequently boasted about the more than 100,000 migrants he has transported by bus to so-called sanctuary communities.
New York has borne the brunt of the arrivals, with Mayor Eric Adams declaring the situation in Gotham a “crisis.” He has also encouraged migrants to seek refuge elsewhere in the country because the city’s resources are limited.
Carrera, the Denver official, asked near the end of his talk how many migrants wanted to leave for another city, but only a few responded, according to 9 News.
However, when asked who wanted to stay in Denver, a migrant reportedly responded “todos,” which means everyone.
