Denver Mayor Mike Johnston told the City Council Tuesday that he is hopeful Congress will pass a bill reimbursing Denver for at least some of its migrant costs.
Johnston made his remarks during the mayor-council meeting. He said he was in Washington, D.C. last week and lobbied for the funding as well as changes to how Venezuelan immigrants receive work permits. He said some of the immigrants in Denver who arrived before Aug. 1 received worked certification, and many found jobs. But when the special work certifications ended, migrants could not find work and ended up on the streets in homeless encampments, Johnston said.
Johnston said he’s aware it won’t be easy to get legislation passed. He recalled an immigrant reform bill in 2013 that received bipartisan support and 60 votes exiting the Senate. But the House speaker did not allow the bill to come to a vote.
Johnston said a bill expected to be introduced soon also has bipartisan support. Council member Serena Gonzales Guttierez asked whether the bill will apply to all immigrants or just Venezuelans. Johnston said it’s likely changes only would be made for Venezuelans in the beginning to address the urgency of unemployment in their host city and the inability to support themselves.