In response to a video recording of a Denver official encouraging newly arrived migrants to consider cities like New York City or Chicago instead of staying in Denver, the city has defended its strategy of promoting "onward travel" as a part of its approach to address the increasing number of new residents. The official's comments, which were captured in a video obtained by NBC News affiliate 9NEWS, have sparked a debate about the city's resources and the challenges posed by the influx of migrants.

During a visit to Denver's main shelter, Mayor Mike Johnston's political director, Andres Carrera, expressed concerns about the strain on resources caused by the growing number of migrants. He stated that the city had received too many migrants, leading to a depletion of resources. Carrera advised the migrant families in attendance to consider other cities where they might find better opportunities and support networks, emphasizing that remaining in Denver could result in more difficulties for them.

According to city data, Denver is currently providing shelter for approximately 700 individuals who have been bused from Texas border towns to so-called sanctuary cities like Denver. The number of people in shelters has significantly decreased from the peak of 5,210 people on January 10. Denver's Press Secretary, Jordan Fuja, stated that the city has received almost 500 buses as part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's campaign to send migrants to Democratic cities such as New York City and Chicago. Fuja noted that Denver has received over 40,000 newcomers, equivalent to about 5.6% of its population, in the past two years. However, around 20,000 people have moved on from the city.

Fuja defended the official's comments, explaining that the limited opportunities for work and housing in Denver have necessitated the promotion of onward travel to cities where newcomers may have better prospects. Encouraging migrants to go to destinations with existing support networks and enhanced job opportunities is seen as a critical aspect of Denver's long-term strategy for the success of both migrants and the city itself.

While both New York City and Chicago are also experiencing an influx of migrants, Denver has welcomed a greater number of individuals per capita, according to Fuja. Similarly, these cities have struggled to provide sufficient resources and housing to accommodate the growing population, leading to measures, such as shelter evictions, to manage their budgets.

New York City, as of February 29, had more than 64,404 migrants and asylum-seekers in need of shelter, with over 50,000 being families with children, according to a city report. Chicago, on the other hand, has 9,899 migrants residing in 21 active shelters administered by the city and state. The city reported receiving 38,468 migrants since 2022, while New York City Mayor Eric Adams shared that his city has received approximately 180,000 migrants since the same year.

Fuja clarified that Denver regularly communicates with both New York City and Chicago but only referenced those cities in response to specific inquiries from the migrants. He emphasized that the city typically works closely with newcomers to determine suitable cities based on existing networks and opportunities for work and housing.

The video clip capturing Carrera's remarks only presented a fraction of the extensive efforts made by Denver officials to assist newcomers. Fuja stressed that the city and county of Denver have spent over $63 million on the migrant response, with limited federal FEMA support of $11 million approved thus far.

As the debate surrounding Denver's approach to handling the migrant influx continues, it remains to be seen how the city will navigate the challenges posed by limited resources and the increasing demand for services.