Denver makes major shift in migrant response by extending support to six months but limiting spaces

DENVER (AP) — Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced a major shift Wednesday in the city’s response to the migrant crisis, extending support to six months but with only about 1,000 spaces. The mayor’s pivot follows failed attempts to get federal aid and deep cuts to the city’s budget as Denver served a total of nearly 41,000 migrants since the end of 2022.

It is a sharp departure from Chicago’s, New York City’s and Denver’s strategy over the past year of weeks- to months- long shelter stays. Instead, Denver’s new program will place asylum seekers in apartments for up to six months, provide job and skill training, opportunities to get certifications and unpaid work experience, food assistance and help with asylum applications.

The goal is to act as a buffer and offer intensive preparation while new arrivals wait six months for a work permit after applying for asylum, under federal law.

“In Denver, we believe that the way to solve these problems is not by turning our back on our American values, but by turning to our American values,” said Johnston, waxing poetic about immigration to America over the centuries.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Colorado politics reporter’s expulsion from a Republican gathering causes uproar </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Teen gets 40 years in prison for Denver house fire that killed 5 from Senegal </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> About 50 women were stranded overnight on