GUEST COLUMN: City prepared to monitor and respond to migrants | Yemi Mobolade
Last weekend, we were informed by a local nonprofit that a number of migrant families have arrived and received shelter in our city. These arrivals were not coordinated by the city of Colorado Springs, the city of Denver or local nonprofits. Further, the city has not been asked, has not offered and has not made signals toward accepting or inviting migrants from Denver, Chicago or any other city.
Of course, we are keenly aware and have been following for months what is occurring in Denver and elsewhere, and we are tracking the impacts on those cities and other cities across the nation. Make no mistake, the crisis at the southern border is serious and it is having a significant impact on cities.
This was an important topic at the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC. Immigration is an enumerated power of the federal government. However, in the absence of a federal government solution, cities are being unfairly impacted. I know after hearing from mayors from such cities, that the impacts they are seeing amount to high expenses, school impacts and a humanitarian crisis.
I join these mayors in calling on the federal government to step up and enact viable solutions.
We are fortunate that our city is not in an emergency situation. Denver is not sending people here through coordinated means. However, as might be expected, some individuals and families have made their way here, and have been housed temporarily by nonprofit shelters.
At this time, local nonprofit shelters have been able to provide service without overwhelming their available and limited resources. I believe our nonprofits are serving their mission through these actions. These are independent organizations that fulfill a vital role in our communities by serving people in need.
I am empathetic to the situation these families are facing. It’s also important to acknowledge and share that in Colorado Springs, we do not have the resources to host this population, and we are clear in that message. We will not invite this crisis into our city, and we are not a “sanctuary city.”
While we don’t expect large numbers, hope is not an effective strategy. As Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” We will not fail.
My duty as mayor is to the residents of Colorado Springs, and we will ensure our city is prepared for any situation. In the interest of being a proactive and transparent government, it is incumbent upon us to properly prepare as we do for any emergency, such as fire or weather impacts. We are in touch with nonprofit shelters on what they are seeing. And the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management is ensuring it has the information necessary to keep our community safe.
We know there is always a possibility that, without being asked or notified, migrant families — individually or in groups — could arrive in Colorado Springs. Just like any emergency, we will be ready to react with an operational plan that prioritizes the safety, quality of life and interests of Colorado Springs residents.
And while we are called to serve and help those in need, my primary responsibility as mayor is toward thoughtful and careful stewardship of our taxpayer dollars. We must use these limited resources in support of and in service to our residents first.
These conversations are ongoing, as is our monitoring of the situation. Certainly, if there are developments that would indicate an escalation of the situation, we will inform the community.
Onward and upward!
Yemi Mobolade is the 42nd mayor of the city of Colorado Springs.
Mayor Yemi Mobolade said Colorado Springs is not a designated sanctuary city and reassured residents there is not a local migrant crisis during an address on Facebook Live on Friday.