A county in Colorado is implementing measures to address the migrant crisis by prohibiting bus companies from stopping or dropping off illegal immigrants in their community. Douglas County Commissioner George Teal emphasized that their community, which has a predominantly Republican population, is not a sanctuary city, and the new ordinance reflects that stance.
Under the ordinance, buses that drop off 'commercial passengers' in 'unplanned locations' in Douglas County could face fines of up to $1,000 per passenger, and the buses may be seized by local law enforcement. This move comes as Colorado communities seek to distance themselves from Denver, which declared itself a sanctuary city and is experiencing an influx of migrants.
Teal criticized Denver for adopting sanctuary city policies early on as part of an anti-Trump trend among Democratic cities. He emphasized that Douglas County, being mostly Republican, was never going to follow suit. In Monument, local officials took a formal vote to affirm the town's status as a 'non-sanctuary city' amid concerns about migrants potentially moving from Denver to nearby areas.
The migrant crisis has strained Denver financially, leading to the closure of four migrant shelters and a plan to reallocate nearly $60 million back into city services. While Denver Mayor Mike Johnston assured that migrants would not be expelled after the shelter closures, Teal expressed skepticism, anticipating that buses might be redirected to Douglas County.
Teal highlighted that the sanctuary city trend was initially a response to former President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Despite the change in administration, he noted that some cities, including Denver, continue to uphold these policies, which they are starting to regret.
With the anticipation of potential migrant influx from Denver, Douglas County enacted the ordinance to prepare for such scenarios, positioning themselves between Denver and Colorado Springs. The county aims to maintain safety and security while upholding its non-sanctuary status.
