A city of 710,000 struggles to cope with 40,000 migrant arrivals

Nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived in Denver in the past year, making it the top destination per capita for migrants crossing the U.S. border and traveling north in buses from Texas.

Nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived in Denver over the past year, making a city with a population of just over 710,000 the top destination per capita for newly arrived migrants crossing the U.S. southern border and traveling north in buses from Texas.

The influx is taking a toll on the city’s public safety net. Starting Feb. 5, Denver will limit the number of days migrants can stay in shelters and send those who exceed their stay out onto the streets.

One Venezuelan family, a mother, father and their three daughters, told NBC News they’ve been staying at a hotel paid for by the city, but they’ve just received notice that they’ll be evicted.

“Just yesterday they started throwing away the toys, the bicycles in the common area,” the mother said. “We don’t know where we will go next.”

Dr. Kristi Rodrigues, a doctor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Denver Health, said staffers are working hard to keep up with patient demand but are in need of more funding to support migrant arrivals.NBC NewsDenver Health, the city’s “safety net” hospital, is asking for more money from both the state and federal government to help cover $10 million in unpaid medical bills from migrants.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/denver-struggles-cope-40000-migrants-rcna135555

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