A vacant elementary school in Denver, Colorado, may soon be repurposed as a shelter for illegal aliens as city officials, including Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston, weigh options to accommodate the increasing number of illegal aliens arriving in the sanctuary city.

Denver, known as a sanctuary city where local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws, has been exploring suitable locations to set up emergency shelters, with this school emerging as a potential site.

According to a spokesperson for Mayor Johnston, while the building has been identified as a possible illegal alien shelter, “nothing is final and there’s no paperwork” confirming the decision as of yet.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston speaks during a press conference talking about the migrant crisis and the toll on United States cities at the United States Capitol.

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The city is in the process of making contingency plans, but has not yet made any determinations on the use of the school property, which is owned by Denver Public Schools.

The discussion of converting the school into a shelter comes at a time when Denver is experiencing a relatively low number of illegal aliens seeking shelter, with around 150 people utilizing the city’s shelter system throughout August, many of whom stayed only briefly before moving on.

This development occurs against a backdrop of increasing concerns regarding gang activity in parts of Denver and its suburbs, particularly involving Venezuelan gangs.

A recent incident in the nearby suburb of Aurora, where armed men believed to be part of the Tren de Aragua gang were filmed knocking on an apartment door, has fueled these concerns.

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Although Aurora police have downplayed the gang’s presence, claiming it has not taken control of the area, the episode has attracted significant attention.

Former President Donald Trump claimed that Venezuelans were “taking over the place” of Aurora, citing the video as evidence of a broader problem of gang activity linked to illegal aliens.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman has also spoken about “criminal elements” taking over buildings and extorting residents, though he later expressed uncertainty about the veracity of these claims.

The debate over illegal alien-related crime and the use of city resources for accommodating illegal aliens comes as Denver, a growing city of over 400,000, seeks to balance safety and economic health concerns. Coffman has criticized narratives that paint all of Aurora as unsafe, arguing that such perceptions are detrimental to the city’s growth and economic prosperity.

Adding to the complexity of the situation are recent social media posts and unverified reports about Venezuelan illegal aliens allegedly overtaking a school bus in San Diego and an apartment building in Chicago. These incidents have not been substantiated but continue to drive public concern over illegal alien activities in urban areas.

As Denver officials continue to evaluate the feasibility of using the vacant school for illegal alien housing, the city’s approach to handling the influx of illegal aliens and addressing associated security concerns remains a topic of significant public interest and debate.

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