Governor Cox calls on Denver to ‘immediately stop’ paying to send migrants to Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Governor Cox’s office released two statements Friday in response to a 2News exclusive that Denver paid approximately 2,000 migrants to travel from the Mile High City to Utah, over a period of just over 18 months – and his last called for an end to this policy. program.

“Since learning of Denver’s policy, we have worked with Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City to push back against the Department of Homeland Security, the City of Denver, the State of Colorado and the Biden Administration , demanding that they immediately end this practice. said Jennifer Napier-Pearce, senior advisor to Cox.

The governor’s office said Denver notified a month ago that the city was sending “illegal immigrants from Denver to locations across the country, including Salt Lake City.”

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Salt Lake police said 15 migrants traveled here over Memorial Day weekend with virtually no idea what to do when they arrived.

The governor’s statement was more direct than that from the Salt Lake City mayor’s office Friday.

“Mayor Mendenhall is aware of the arrival of migrants from Denver and has spoken with (Denver) Mayor (Mike) Johnston over the past month,” it read. “Our office is regularly briefed by federal and local agencies. Salt Lake City has directed families without local connections to available resources, but our messaging has been consistent about our emergency services and shelters operating at full capacity. “

Utah House Minority Leader Angela Romero urged treating all immigrants with respect.

“Asylum seekers have a legal right to be in the United States under immigration law,” Romero said. “Instead of blaming one state, we need to come together.”

Cox’s full statement on the migrant situation can be found below.

“We recently learned that Denver’s Democratic mayor sent illegal immigrants to Utah without proper notification or approval. This is completely unacceptable and follows the Biden administration’s failed catch-and-release policy Every state has taken in illegal immigrants and Utah’s resources are completely exhausted. All 50 states, including Utah, are now border states due to the failure of President Biden’s immigration policies. Congress Once again, we call on the Biden administration and Congress to resolve this crisis.

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