In the midst of a budget crisis fueled by the arrival of 40,000 illegal immigrants in the past year, Denver is grappling with the challenge of assimilating this population into the workforce. Reports suggest that the city is notifying hourly workers about potential job cuts, cautioning that their hours might be reduced to zero due to the influx of illegal immigrants. To address this, Denver is exploring ways to employ migrants, even suggesting that the city might consider hiring illegal immigrants, despite the legal implications.
Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat from Colorado, acknowledged the potential legal ramifications but indicated a willingness to confront any legal challenges from the federal government. The city’s efforts extend beyond workforce considerations, involving collaboration with Denver Public Schools (DPS) to facilitate work permits for illegal immigrants. Emails obtained under public records laws reveal that DPS is actively involved in organizing hiring fairs and visa-sponsored events to integrate illegal immigrants into the workforce.
The school district is not only assisting illegal immigrants with obtaining work permits but is also collaborating with the city, state, and federal government to help them settle in the United States permanently. The emails indicate plans for legal clinics to aid new arrivals in applying for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). TPS, intended for those fleeing countries with ongoing armed conflict or extraordinary conditions, has been extended to multiple countries, including El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Denver Public Schools’ response to the surge in new arrivals includes repurposing a property intended for expanding the Denver School of Arts as a potential migrant shelter. The district is also exploring regulatory and legislative solutions to temporarily pause state testing, concerned about the optics of poor test scores among the migrant student population. The emails reveal the complexities and challenges faced by Denver Public Schools due to the significant influx of new students.
The school system’s initial hope that illegal immigrants would help conceal declining enrollment and maintain budget levels has not materialized. Instead, a nearly $20 million shortfall has emerged, attributed to illegal immigrants’ non-payment of taxes. Despite requests for information, DPS and the mayor’s office have not provided responses.
Denver’s approach to addressing the impact of illegal immigration on its workforce and education system raises concerns from a conservative perspective. Questions about the fiscal burden, potential legal violations, and the impact on existing residents and students are central to the conservative narrative. The reluctance to release documents and the potential consequences of prioritizing illegal immigrants over the concerns of American citizens contribute to the conservative critique of Denver’s response to the situation.
