Aurora Colorado to Investigate Migrant Serving Nonprofits

After the Orange Fuhrer asserted that Venezuelan gang members have “invaded and conquered” Aurora, Colorado, a City Councilwoman proposed, and the Aurora City Council adopted a resolution directing the City Manager to investigate migrant serving nonprofit organizations.  The City’s Republican Mayor says the claim is false and that neighboring Denver has not dumped immigrants in Aurora.  But the Council adopted the resolution 6-2 anyway.  The accusation that Democratic-controlled state and local governments are surreptitiously transporting migrants to Republican-controlled jurisdictions seems to be part of a coordinated national strategy.   In an October 8, 2024 letter 25 Republican governors accused the Biden Administration of “dumping” migrants in their jurisdictions:

The apparent dumping of migrants into our cities and small towns with no advance notice has not only sowed mistrust and fear among the public, but it has also placed the migrants themselves at potential of physical harm. After being met with understandable skepticism from the communities in which they are now living, migrants have become fearful to interact with the public. This isolation has created a ripe environment for their exploitation and abuse.

Here is the Aurora, Colorado resolution:

RESOLUTION NO. R2024- 129

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AURORA, COLORADO, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE A REPORT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE RECEIVED AID TO SERVE IMMIGRANTS WITHIN THE CITY AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS

WHEREAS, the City of Aurora, Colorado, (the “City”), is a home rule municipality, organized and existing under and by virtue of Article XX, Section 6 of the Colorado Constitution, and under Article XX Section 6 the Colorado Constitution, the City has authority over local matters; and

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado has created the “Office of New Americans” to advance the integration of immigrants in Colorado and serve as a point of contact for state agencies and private organizations to promote immigrants’ integration and the management of state polices with respect to immigration; and

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado and adjacent jurisdictions to the City, such as the City and County of Denver have intentionally placed immigrants within the City without notifying the City of this placement and consequently placing great strain in our community; and

WHEREAS, Aurora is not a County and does not have the same responsibilities and funding that a County has, and as such the City’s financial resources or other local resources are limited and offering sanctuary or support is impossible and creates risks to the health, safety, and welfare of both migrants and the residents of Aurora, nonetheless, the City has used funds from multiple sources including the City’s own funds through the years to assist non-profits that help the immigrant community seeking to improve the overall provision of services to them; and

WHEREAS, the City Council (the “Council”) would like the City Manager to investigate and provide a comprehensive list of those organizations that have received assistance to aid immigrants placed within the City; and

WHEREAS, the Council is concerned that placing immigrants within the City without the adequate resources to assist them is detrimental to the City, to the immigrants, and the community at large; and

WHEREAS, the Council believes that the requests contained in this resolution are in the best interest of the City, and the citizens of Aurora.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AURORA, COLORADO.

Section 1. The Aurora City Council hereby directs the City Manager to investigate and prepare a list of community organizations that have received funding specifically dedicated to aid immigrants, including funds from the Federal, State, the City and county of Denver, and/or any other local government or community organization, by utilizing the Colorado Opens Records Act, or any other lawfully available means to obtain the requested information.

Section 2. The Aurora City Council hereby directs the City Manager to investigate whether or not the State of Colorado and the City and county of Denver have placed immigrants in Aurora, without the help of Aurora based non-profits.

Section 3. The Aurora City Council hereby directs the City Manager to obtain, copies of all contracts, agreements, grants, or any other document directly related to the placement of immigrants in Aurora by the Federal Government, the State of Colorado, and the City and County of Denver or any other jurisdiction, including information related to the use of funds, if any, by the State of Colorado “Office of New Americans.” This shall include information related to housing, nutrition assistant, cash, or any other assistance received by immigrants within the City of Aurora.

Section 4. The Aurora City Council hereby directs the City Manager to report to council the findings related to this project.

Section 5. All resolutions or parts of resolutions of the City in conflict herewith are hereby rescinded.

RESOLVED AND PASSED this 14th day of October 2024.

darryll k. jones