By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
The solution to Denver’s illegal immigrant crisis cannot be transferring responsibility to other municipalities and governments, Mesa County commissioners said Tuesday.
Commissioners have passed a resolution and written a letter to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, clarifying Mesa County as a non-sanctuary county.
“We appreciate Denver’s efforts to address the complex and sensitive immigration issues, but we must be clear and communicate Mesa County’s inability to extend aid,” the letter reads. “Our decision stems not from a lack of empathy or understanding, but from fiscal responsibility and the constraints and challenges we face within our jurisdiction.”
Mesa County’s resources are strained by an estimated population of 2,300 homeless, a population of more than a third of all county residents – 46,000 – receiving some form of public benefit, 1,500 new applications monthly for benefits, and all the while a mixture of high inflation and cuts to federal and state funding which are crippling the resources of the county, the resolution reads.
In Mesa County, the Senior Nutrition Program is underfunded by $400,000, two hospitals in the county combine for an annual loss of $18.6 million stemming from unreimbursed care and the the school district ranks in the bottom three in funding for the state of Colorado, the resolution continues.
“It was Denver, not Mesa County, which made the decision to become a sanctuary city,” Commissioner Janet Rowland said. “Now, they are faced with the consequences of that decision. The solution is not to send these folks to Mesa County. The responsible thing for Denver to do is to rescind its position as a sanctuary city.”
A recent news article indicated Denver might, in partnership, send migrants to Mesa County, which led commissioners to clarify the county’s position.
“This letter was really designed to send a message not only to Mayor Johnston, but also to well-meaning, well-intentioned nonprofits in our community who have projected to outside communities that we can help take immigrants,” said Commissioner Cody Davis.
Those nonprofits may have extended an offer of short-term assistance, but they do not have all of the required ability to assist with migrant relocation, Commissioners’ Chair Bobbie Daniel said.
“Our decision does not come from a lack of empathy or understanding, but from a fiscal responsibility and the true constraint and challenges we face within our jurisdictions,” she added. “We have high inflation, and the cost of Colorado living is increasingly expensive. The reality could not be overstated – our community resources within Mesa County are already strained.”
Mesa County Deputy Administrator Todd Hollenbeck indicated Denver’s misunderstanding of Mesa County’s position may have stemmed from miscommunication.
In 2014, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office adopted a policy that the jail would not hold detainees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who have not been criminally charged. The policy was misinterpreted to suggest that Mesa County is a sanctuary county, leading to its erroneous inclusion on websites claiming such status, the resolution reads.
“This [action] makes it clear what Mesa County’s stance is: it is a non-sanctuary county,” Hollenbeck said.
The resolution declares: “Mesa County is NOT a sanctuary county and will not open shelters or provide services, other than emergency services, to uninvited migrants and/or illegal immigrants that may arrive in unincorporated Mesa County. Mesa County will continue to prioritize the needs of our local citizens.”
While the nonprofits which may have been involved in offering services did so out of compassion, they are funded through several already strapped governmental resources.
“I love their intentions, but those nonprofits rely heavily on resources that the City of Grand Junction and Mesa County both provide,” Davis said. “Good intentions don’t magically create new resources. We want to project to everybody that we aren’t and we can’t be an immigration sanctuary, because we don’t have the resources and we don’t feel like its ethical or moral to project that to anybody.”
Among the issues concerning the nonprofits assisting Denver, Rowland said, is that while they may be equipped to provide food and bedding, “they can’t also provide shelter, health care and education; it is cruel to invite people to be here knowing that their needs cannot be met.”
Denver has served a migrant population of 37,000 at a cost of $38 million, the resolution declares. The recent influx could result in $180 million in budget cuts in Denver, the resolution continues.
“This is not intended to be cruel to immigrants. Our country was built on immigrants and we have a process for that,” Rowland said. “The process is what protects our citizens and ensures the well being of the migrants themselves. We need to prioritize our people, our kids, our seniors and our taxpayers.”
The commissioners’ letter to Mayor Johnston concludes: “Mesa County will not turn its back on its citizens. Offering aid without the financial means, resources, or a sustainable plan to support immigrants is unethical. Good intentions must be backed by practical capabilities — Mesa County does not have the heart to give false hope.”