Author: Nicole C. Brambila
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Lawsuit alleges Colorado lawmakers suppressed free speech on transgender name change bill
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A group has filed a federal lawsuit against Colorado lawmakers, alleging they suppressed – during public hearings – the free speech of those opposed to a bill that would provide a specific avenue for transgender individuals convicted of felonies to legally change their name. Critics of the measure argued that the bill would put the…
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New Douglas County ordinance prohibits unscheduled immigrant bus drop-offs
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Douglas County commissioners unanimously voted to approve an ordinance this week that takes aim at Colorado’s “sanctuary” laws by prohibiting commercial vehicles from making unscheduled stops in unincorporated Douglas County to drop off immigrants. The new ordinance simultaneously targets so-called “sanctuary” cities and efforts lawmakers around the country have made to offload immigrants elsewhere. This…
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Poll finds illegal immigration top issue for Colorado voters
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A new statewide poll shows illegal immigration emerging as the paramount issue for Colorado voters, with roughly two-in-three viewing the unprecedented influx as a major problem. Conducted by the Colorado Polling Institute, the survey posed an open-ended question to 632 likely voters, asking – among other things – what they believed were the most important…
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Denver’s long-term strategy — in place for ‘several months’ now — includes pleading for immigrants to leave
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Denver officials have – for “several months” – implored arriving immigrants who illegally crossed the southern border to leave Colorado’s most populous city for more “opportunities” elsewhere in the country. Their transportation to other destinations would be paid at taxpayers’ expense. Jordan Fuja, a spokesperson for Mayor Mike Johnston, declined, though, to say exactly when…
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Denver to close four immigrant shelters, starting with Aurora
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Next week when Denver begins closing shelters used to temporarily house immigrants, officials will start with the shelter in Aurora that has driven a wedge between the two cities. The shelter is one of four hotels that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said earlier this week the city would be shuttering over the next month, a…
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Polis, governors to Congress, White House: Make immigration deal
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A cadre of Democratic governors – including Gov. Jared Polis – called on Congress and the Biden administration to reach a border security deal that includes funding to support states, such as Colorado, that are struggling to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by an influx of immigrants crossing the border illegally. “We need Congress…
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Denver mayor, Colorado congressional delegation calls on Congress to step up with immigration reforms
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado’s Democratic Congressional delegation called on Congress Thursday to take urgent action to support Colorado communities struggling under the weight of a growing humanitarian crisis caused by surges of immigrants, many fleeing brutal regimes and crossing the U.S. border illegally. As of Thursday morning, Denver has welcomed an unprecedented 37,604…
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Student enrollment down statewide, up in Denver because of newly arriving immigrants
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Student enrollment statewide declined for a second year with new data from the Colorado Department of Education showing a loss of about 1,800 students on what’s called the October count, which is used to determine funding levels for school districts. “On a percentage basis, it’s a fairly small change,” said Jennifer Okes, chief school operations…
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Denver to resume discharging immigrant families from shelters
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Denver will resume discharging immigrant families with children from city-run shelters while extending its length-of-stay policy for families, city officials announced Wednesday. The previous maximum stay for families was 37 days, which is being extended to 42 days. “We don’t want to see people exiting the shelter and going onto the street,” said Jon Ewing,…
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New immigrants pose ‘difficult dilemma’ as Denver Health sees thousands of unpaid medical visits
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Denver Health – the city’s hospital safety net – saw $10 million in additional “uncompensated care” in the last year, which the health system attributed to the tens of thousands of medical visits from immigrant patients from South and Central America. The rise in costs coincides with – and health officials attribute to – the unprecedented…
