In an effort to cope with the overwhelming influx of migrants, the city of Denver has initiated the removal of approximately 800 migrant families from shelters, as reported by city officials. On Monday, around 140 families were evicted from temporary accommodations, with the remaining 660 families set to be relocated in the coming weeks.

Denver, a sanctuary city, has been facing a significant challenge in stretching its limited resources to support the growing number of migrants. As border states like Texas have transported thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities like Denver, the strain on resources, including overcrowded shelters and overrun hospitals, has become apparent.

According to a report from NBC News, state officials in Denver have implemented a limit on the duration of stay for migrants in state-provided rooms to accommodate the daily influx of individuals. The city has been sheltering a staggering 3,813 people and is struggling to accommodate the continuous waves of illegal immigrants descending on the city.

Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, stated during a town hall meeting that Denver has reached full capacity. "We have filled every single hotel room that we have available in the city and county of Denver," he said. The crisis has pushed the city to take the difficult decision of removing migrants from shelters to make room for new arrivals.

The city had initially paused shelter exits due to colder weather conditions. However, due to space constraints and timing, this pause will end during this week, as reported by 9News. Previously, migrants with children were allowed to stay for up to 37 days.

Denver has already incurred significant costs in supporting migrants from the southern border. "As of Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, Denver has supported 38,380 migrants from the southern border at a cost of more than $42 million," stated the city's website. This influx of migrants is not only straining resources but could also force the city to make budget cuts of up to $180 million based on current projections.

Yoli Casas, a representative from the nonprofit organization ViVe Wellness, expressed concern over the unprecedented number of migrants arriving in the city. ViVe Wellness is actively assisting in addressing Denver's migrant crisis. Casas stated, "We have never seen so many people come and so many people in the last year... Feb. 5 hurts a lot because it's a date that, for various reasons, we're full. There's just no more space."

In an effort to alleviate crowding, the city has also been assisting migrants in leaving Denver by purchasing bus tickets. In January alone, over 2,000 tickets were acquired, with most individuals being sent to destinations within the United States, including New York City and Chicago, according to Denverite.

The surge of migrants has also put Denver's health system under immense pressure. Last year, approximately 8,000 illegal immigrants made roughly 20,000 visits to Denver Health, seeking emergency room treatment, primary care, dental care, and childbirth services. These visits contributed to the health system accumulating a deficit of around $22 million.

Although Denver passed laws to become a sanctuary city, no official policy mandating indefinite shelter provision exists. As a result, the city is faced with the challenging task of balancing its responsibilities to migrants while ensuring the well-being and sustainability of its resources.

As Denver grapples with this complex situation, city officials are actively seeking solutions to mitigate the strain on resources and accommodate the continuous arrival of migrants.