As Cinco de Mayo approaches, fear of deportation is prevalent among Denver’s Latino community, as it is across the country, due to the federal government’s tough stance on immigration and President Donald Trump’s actions, such as proposing a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

That was part of the preliminary findings from the Denver Latino Commission in its 2016 report to Denver City Council members. The commission was also asked to help the Council decide how to help residents respond to likely sharp property tax hikes in low-income, mostly Latino, communities.

Tariana Navas-Nieves and Vicki Lovato, Latino Commission co-chairs, recently presented the report to the Council’s Business, Arts, Workforce & Aeronautical Services Committee.

Lovato said a series of listening sessions and phone interviews with Latino leaders were conducted last year. From those, the commission tentatively identified some of the top challenges to the Latino community: Affordable housing, workforce training, transportation and mistrust with the federal government and Trump administration in Washington, D.C.

“It’s not easy for many to separate federal, state and city government,” Lovato noted, “so if one is seen as negative, it’s applied to all of them. How to separate that fear is tough.”

Most fears involved immigration, she added.

“There is confusion and many people are afraid they won’t be safe at school or at church,” Lovato said. “Denver has taken great strides to be a safe place, but the scary stories of someone being deported is what stands out.”

Navas-Nieves said one commission member is a professor at Metro State University and told others they he had not seen as many students who were afraid to travel home for Christmas as last December, “Because they didn’t know if they would be allowed back” into the U.S.

She said it’s hoped the commission can become a “trusted outsider” between the federal government and the Denver Latino community.

Lovato added the commission hopes to do a better job of letting Latino community members know when they can “have a seat at the table.”

Canary struggling for breath

Councilman Kevin Flynn suggested the commission take on a policy role for affordable housing, noting that Council districts 2, 3 and 11 — where many Latinos and low-income families live — were most affected by recent property value reassessments.

“They’re faced with potentially enormous property tax hikes when the bills are mailed out in January,” he said. “It sounds to me like the canary is struggling for breath in the coal mine.”

Flynn said the three districts could see an “onslaught” of people forced out or priced out of their homes because they can’t afford to pay higher property taxes.

“Maybe you have people with skills in taxes or real estate and they could give us some advice on what this Council might do to help people stay in their homes,” he said. “These are homes built in the 1940s and 50s and they’ve been well cared for. I’d hate to see people forced out by economic forces.”

Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore said financial literacy should also be addressed.

“There’s a possibility that property values in the districts Councilman Flynn mentioned might increase by up to 50 percent,” she said. “We need to use our networks to help educate people how assessments work. Tax bills won’t be mailed until January 2018, so we have a window of opportunity to talk to whatever groups and people we can reach.”

Gilmore also stated the city may need a funding stream to help certain residents pay their property taxes, and invited the commission to provide feedback and assistance.

“We can’t just say we’re sorry, because there are people on fixed incomes and no savings to fall back on,” she said. “If it comes out of the general fund or wherever, how can we help? We need the commission’s help or we’ll be facing mandated displacement and gentrification in certain communities.”

Councilman Paul Lopez, a former Latino commission member, noted the areas facing the highest property tax increases are the same ones that suffered the most from home foreclosures during the Great Recession of 2008.

“I know there are many people living in these areas that survived the foreclosure crisis but are in debt and have bad credit, so they can’t access their capital in their properties,” he said. “And when you can’t get a loan to help keep your house, the first thing you do is sell it. I’d hate to see that happen here.”

Other preliminary findings in the commission’s report are a perception that the Latino community is not included in decisions that impact them and that they are underrepresented in Denver leadership. On the plus side, Latinos think the city is working to strengthen ties and improve engagement; organizations are partnering with the city to fill gaps and needs; efforts to meet community needs have increased; and more information is shared in Spanish.

Also, even though more is needed, resources are reaching the Latino community; Denver is focusing on transportation, housing, public safety and community relations; Latino pride in community and culture is strong; many community Latino leaders are young up and comers; and the community has a strong commitment to social justice.