Venezuela's political unrest could mean more immigrants in Denver
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Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government protest in front of national police in the Catia neighborhood of Caracas yesterday. Photo: Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images
The results of Venezuela's hotly contested presidential election could force millions more Venezuelans to flee to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Why it matters: Denver — which Mayor Mike Johnston says has received more migrants per capita than any other city — may once again face an influx of immigrants in need of food, shelter and employment at a time when resources remain strained.
The big picture: Multiple polls show as many as one-third of Venezuelans are interested in leaving the country if President Nicolás Maduro stays in power, the New York Times reports.
- Maduro was announced as the winner of Sunday's election, despite independent exit polls showing opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who has also claimed victory, won more votes.
State of play: The United States has expressed "serious concerns" over Maduro's victory claims and called for election officials to publicly release the tabulation of votes.
- On Monday, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also condemned Maduro for "depriving Venezuelans of their rights" and "stifling freedom."
What they're saying: Jatniel, an asylum-seeker from Venezuela who has been in Denver since April, said "a lot of people" he knows are fleeing the country "as we speak" for fear Maduro will serve a third term, he told us through a translator.
- Jatniel, who requested only his first name be used to protect his identity, said he left his telecommunications firm in Venezuela due to government corruption under Maduro's leadership.
State of play: City officials are working to figure out how Venezuela's political unrest may play out locally, Denver Human Services spokesperson Jon Ewing tells us.
- Should the city see another surge of arrivals, officials "don't have any intent of going back to the model of providing several weeks of shelter or anything along those lines," Ewing says.
- That means any newcomers from Venezuela will only have access to two short-term congregate shelters for 72 hours max before being kicked out as part of the city's latest immigration strategy.
Yes, but: It's unclear how many people would actually make it into Denver amid President Biden's border crackdown, which has already significantly limited the number of immigrants in city shelters.
What's next: Denver leaders are watching Venezuela's election fallout closely and preparing for "what we could see in the fall," since the trek from Venezuela to the U.S. typically takes months, Ewing says.
- They're also "preparing for other contingencies," including more people rushing into the U.S. ahead of former President Trump possibly taking office because they're "afraid he'll lock the border down even tighter," Ewing says.
- On Aug. 7, a new state law taking effect will grant funding to community-based organizations that support new immigrants, which could ease some pressure on resources if another influx does occur.