DENVER — Commissioners not only want to keep migrants out of Douglas County, but out of Denver, as well.
Thursday, Republican Douglas County Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal passed a resolution calling on Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to reverse the city's 2017 resolution declaring Denver a "sanctuary city." The label is not an official designation but means Denver limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
"This is a crisis of their own making," Teal said, referencing Denver's position as a sanctuary.
Laydon read aloud Dougco's three-page resolution and said he appreciates the effort to address the humanitarian crisis. He also emphasized the importance of safeguarding citizens.
"As far as I've been told I'm the first Latino commissioner elected in Douglas County. I do recognize the plight of those that are facing the challenges that we see today," he said. "I want to ensure that we are looking out for those that are playing by the rules, and also that we are focused on the public safety of our community."
The resolution states that "Douglas County supports legal immigration" and that "those who pay taxes and follow the laws of the land have been unfairly exploited and burdened by those who do not."
It affirmed the county is not considered a sanctuary and called on other counties in the metro area, including Denver, to do the same.
Denver is currently straining to shelter more than 3,000 migrants from the southern border, primarily people from Venezuela, out of nearly 24,000 who have traveled to Denver since December.
Johnston has called for a regional approach to the migrant efforts.
Douglas County called the resolution a proactive step to keep Denver from outsourcing migrant sheltering across county lines. Johnston's office said it is not operating shelters in Douglas County and called the resolution was "disappointing and disheartening"
This is not the only county concerned about Denver's migrant crisis spilling over. Earlier this week, the Adams County Board of Health passed an order requiring detailed records for any migrant shelters after they say they discovered Denver was temporarily housing migrants in facilities in Adams County.
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