Updated 5/14/2019 at 2:45 p.m.
Early Monday morning, a bus carrying 55 refugees arrived in Denver. The group had traveled several hours from a shelter in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where the number of migrant asylum-seekers has overwhelmed local organizations and immigration authorities.
According to reports from numerous media outlets,, immigration authorities have begun releasing large numbers of asylum seekers from detention centers in border cities like El Paso, Texas.
Officials with U.S. Border Patrol stated in March that they've seen an unprecedented number of families and children, many from Central America. They've called the situation a crisis and that they have no choice but to release people, some of whom are not asylum seekers, because the system is overwhelmed.
Once released, these individuals are allowed to await their immigration hearing in the U.S., but many have nowhere to stay in the interim, or need help connecting with relatives and friends in the country.
Megan Hope is a board member with Annunciation House, an organization that works with migrants in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. They also run the shelter in Las Cruces. Hope said it was the first time the organization has had to seek support out of state and they likely turned to Denver for its reputation as being friendly toward immigrants.
鈥淐ommunities in Denver have provided sanctuary to other immigrants and there鈥檚 a fairly active network here of people willing to provide that hospitality,鈥� she said.
In October 2017, , more than in any other state in the country.
On Monday afternoon, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock released a statement expressing his support of the group鈥檚 arrival.
鈥淒enver will always be a welcoming place for people seeking refuge,鈥� Hancock said. 鈥淚 am proud of our community for proactively stepping in to provide support in uniting these individuals with their family and friends. They deserve our compassion, not condemnation.鈥�
The 55 refugees include many parents with children and they will remain in one of three Denver churches until they are transported to permanent housing elsewhere in the country.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include statements from the U.S. Border Patrol.
