Caraveo Confronts President About Need for Federal Action Regarding Migrant Crisis

Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, M.D. (CO-08) confronted President Joe Biden on Monday about the need for federal action to address the migrant crisis after it recently came to Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in Adams County. In a letter sent to the President on October 30, Caraveo points to record-high southern border crossings as an example of our long-broken immigration system and advocates for federal funding focused on helping interior states like Colorado which are now being impacted by the border crisis.

“The City of Denver and surrounding localities continue to be inundated by challenges created by the high number of arrivals, and it is not possible for these localities to adequately meet the needs of both their citizens and arriving migrants if this were to continue. While local funding is crucial to addressing this issue, providing funding support for migrants should not fall primarily on the shoulders of local taxpayers. The federal government needs to step in to take responsibility,” wrote Caraveo.

I am encouraged to see your Administration’s recent request for supplemental funding to address this border crisis. However, I am concerned this funding may not make its way to non-border states like Colorado, where our state and local services are being strained.”
Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo

“I am encouraged to see your Administration’s recent request for supplemental funding to address this border crisis. However, I am concerned this funding may not make its way to non-border states like Colorado, where our state and local services are being strained. That is why I am requesting that subsequent Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding be prioritized for interior cities, specifically Denver and its surrounding localities, to humanely address the diverse needs of migrants, and to alleviate the stress on our systems being caused by a continuing influx of arrivals,” Caraveo continued.

Beginning last December, Colorado started experiencing an influx of migrants and asylum seekers. Since then, we have seen times where the number of migrants in local shelters in the Denver Metropolitan Area peaked at over 3,000 migrants, with approximately 400-500 individuals arriving daily. These high numbers are the result of a steady stream of buses that are arriving from the Southern border, oftentimes without advance notice. At one point, the city received 37 buses of migrants in a single week. To date, the City of Denver has provided assistance to over 25,000 migrants since December of last year.

The City of Denver recently housed migrants in a hotel located on the Adams County line. In response, the Adams County Health Department issued a public health order demanding the City of Denver disclose the personal information of the migrants staying at the hotel, including their date of arrival, personal health records and when they planned to leave Adams County.

While Denver originally allocated $20 million for migrant support efforts, they have spent over $26 million to date, or about $1.5 million per week. A recent independent study suggests the city is on track to spend almost $40 million by the end of the year.

While Denver received funding earlier this year through the SSP after Caraveo’s urging, it was just under $10 million, well shy of making Denver whole.

See the full text of the letter here.