As was announced on Tuesday, the Auraria Higher Education Center has allowed the City and County of Denver Office of Emergency Management to utilize space on the northwest side of the Auraria Campus for a processing center for a recent influx of migrant asylum-seekers from the southern border of the United States. Due to the swell in demand, the Denver OEM was unable to process the full volume each day, leaving AHEC with the responsibility to support the asylum-seekers overnight. The group was housed in a secure facility, and AHEC coordinated the provision of food, water and basic hygiene needs.
On Wednesday, the City and County of Denver coordinated with AHEC to transport the individuals to temporary shelters off campus. The city also announced it will reactivate its Emergency Operations Center and Joint Information Center effective 8 a.m. Thursday, May 11, to ensure enhanced coordination and management of resources to better meet the needs of so many new arrivals.
Due to the security and sensitivity of this evolving situation, city officials have asked that neither specific details nor the location of the shelters be shared publicly. Official information should be found through Denver’s Migrant Support webpage or the Auraria Higher Education Center.
The city provides a daily update at: https://www.denvergov.org/Community/Assistance-Programs/Migrant-Support.
How you can help
The Newcomers Fund is accepting monetary donations from the general public. Donations will go directly to the city’s nonprofit partners who are helping with resource navigation and housing for migrants. Anyone who would like to support the fund can learn more here.