AURORA | Aurora City Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky adamantly defended a proposed resolution she said would prevent a large influx of migrants coming into the city.
The proposed resolution, which was presented at the city council’s Federal, State and Intergovernmental Committee meeting Friday afternoon, states that the city would prevent organizations from transporting migrants and people experiencing homelessness into the city. It also states that the city would not provide any services nor staff support for migrants.
The committee is made up of three Aurora city council members. Only Councilmember Curtis Gardner opposed the resolution. Councilmember Steve Sundberg is not a member of the committee, but he co-sponsored the resolution with Jurinsky and was supportive of the measure, along with Mayor Mike Coffman.
“This resolution needs to send a clear message,” Jurinsky said. “You will receive no services from the city of Aurora. Not from the Office of Immigration. There will be no staff support. There will be no non-profit support or they run the risk of losing city support.”
Gardner pushed back against the resolution. He said that it sends mixed messages to the staff about what services could be provided to which immigrants and homeless people.
“If someone calls 911, is the fire department supposed to check the immigration status of somebody before they produce lifesaving medical care?” he asked.
Jurinsky defended the resolution by saying that people should use common sense. She also said that Gardner’s argument was “far-reaching” and said that it was “ridiculous.”
Jurinsky criticized The Sentinel’s previous reporting on the resolution, which quoted a spokesperson from the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless on how this resolution could affect homeless veterans from accessing medical care in Aurora.
“This in no way talks about us not helping homeless Americans,” she said.
Cathy Alderman, spokesperson for the coalition, said the language as it is written in the resolution is very broad and seems to apply to all or any people experiencing homelessness, not just migrants. The phrase “individuals experiencing homelessness” is used multiple times in the resolution.
“Additionally, homeless service providers do not generally ask nationality or ethnicity questions when providing services and in many instances, it is discriminatory and against the law to premise receipt of services on immigration status,” Alderman said.
Jurinsky defended the resolution when faced with Gardner’s questions about whether the resolution could be enforced, and whether violators could in any way be penalized.
City attorney George Koumantakis initially told the committee that there is no “enforcement mechanism” because this was not an ordinance, just a resolution.
That drew a heated response from Jurinsky, who immediately said that there is an enforcement mechanism that she’s discussed with Aurora police attorney Pete Schulte.
“If we have to take this route we will,” she said. “The bus driver that physically drives into the city of Aurora and drops off migrants, that bus driver could be ticketed.”
The city did not immediately respond to The Sentinel’s request for clarification on enforcing the resolution.
The resolution was forwarded to the full city council for study session debate. As of Friday afternoon, a time and date for the study session has not been set.
The way the resolution is written us troublesome and mired in the stereotypical prejudice and bias we have come to see from certain council members. Why should we be surprised Aurora claim that we celebrate diversity is challenged at every turn look at the futile attempts to dismantle the DEI office over the years. Threatening to punish organizations like the mango house and other non profits that provide support to migrants is just inhumane and I urge citizens to actually open thier eyes about the decisions being made.
“It also states that the city would not provide any services nor staff support for migrants.”
Completely gross and disgusting. Turning your back on helping people who need it, in the state’s most diverse city. Great job, GOP. You’re destroying Aurora just as you planned.
Looking forward to hearing about some book bans coming up, and then dumb stuff like anti-trans legislation. It won’t be far behind. Anyone who thinks otherwise is completely deluded.
Bob- Biden is a Democrat…. and Denver is a Democrat’s Sanctuary city. Trump tried to slow down illegal crossings. It is a problem. People are breaking windows and stealing so much stuff the Life line of a Dollar Tree and others have to close. People want to help, but millions to house people not legal is INSANE
This does not destroy Aurora, it prevents costs from being incurred by the taxpayers of the city. If taxpayers want to fund resources for those without legal status, move to Denver. The city government there is happy to take your hard-earned money and give it away (or maybe because your money isn’t so hard-earned, you don’t mind giving it away).
I read that council person Jurinski once again is elbowing her way into the public consciousness. First, in the most diverse city in Colorado, she wants to send a message to migrants that there is no support for them here. Instead of working to help, she opts to reject! Nice. Second, she decides she must go to Israel to help with a situation that has nothing to do with her job in Aurora. She insists that she must go so she can look at herself in the mirror. Well, her welcoming attitude toward poor migrants should keep her from checking her image out forever. I have this message: Stay home, Danielle and do your job!
I’m an Independent (non-affiliated) voter and I support this. If you’re here illegally, you should not get tax payer funded support. I support LEGAL immigration. Go back to your country and apply for entry the legal way. An open border is idiotic. We should be spending our time pressing the Congress (Dems and Repubs, they’re all equally guilty) for immigration reform that allows vetted immigrants into the US efficiently and orderly. I think our Mayor and council are trying their best to keep Aurora from becoming the sewer that cities like San Francisco, Portland and New York have become. Sanctuary cities are paying the price for having a woke adenda. Their problems should not be our problems!
It’s legal for migrants fleeing persecution to enter the country and seek asylum. It’s illegal to deny them the opportunity. It also makes good common sense to allow them to work since we are in desperate need of shoring up our workforce. I assume you are an older person, maybe out of the workforce, so you should be thankful these immigrants are so eager to work to support your future social security payments. Without them the system will be broke soon or your taxes will go way up to keep it solvent. You can’t have all the opportunities and none of the responsibilites for your future drag on the system just because you were born here.
For most of my long life, asylum defined for persecution by your government for your religion or your ethnicity. The U.S. government would identify these countries ahead of time and permit asylum seekers from those countries. The Democrats have succeeded in expanding this policy to now include any type of concern from anyone and also those who simply want a better life. This is not how asylum was intended in the Constitution.
What we need in our workforce are more doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists and entrepreneurs. We already have enough unskilled laborers. The people our economy needs are not the ones entering our country illegally. Most of them will be ordered back to their countries of origin if they ever show up for their court dates.
The first sentence should read “For most of my long life, asylum was defined as persecution by your government for your religion or your ethnicity. (Sorry)
Amen. I too am an independent and I see Americans struggling and can’t access resources because funding is dried up to give free everything to illegals. We need to help our own first and foremost and legal citizens should be the priority. Sick of being taxed and it is diverted for purposes that don’t support us. Both parties need to do their jobs, oh wait didn’t the R’s backtrack on recent legislation that had what they required for their support? And the border has been an issue for decades so stop blaming one administration….
This resolution is born out of FEAR -The fear of recognizing another person’s need, the fear this community might have to make sacrifices to meet the basic needs of other human beings, and the fear we can no longer close our eyes to human suffering as we enjoy our comfortable lives in this community.
Although it may be unenforceable what this resolution does do is reveal hardened hearts not willing to receive the gift of knowing these people , nor to be enriched by their stories of courage to seek a better life with us here. They may have need for help at this point but in giving that help now they will more quickly become an asset to this community. We only have to trust, to give, and then acknowledge that one day, too, each of us may need the assistance of others.
Invite them to your house then!! Stop letting your emotions override logic and common sense. We can’t support the entire planet. And sacrifice? How about you tell that to the elite instead of ordinary citizens? How dare you assume to tell others what they have or do not have to do or go without. People like you are the reason there are so many problems nowadays. Letting your “feelings” override reason. Put a sign up at your place saying all are welcome since you seem to have abundant resources….
This piece was as biased as this comment, and it might benefit you both, Sharon and Kristen, to hear what I feel about this as a concerned citizen.
Is Aurora not helping people experiencing homelessness every day? The city and its support services ARE currently serving and have been at nearly full tilt since the pandemic recovery began. The on-the-ground volunteers in the groups now supporting our poor and homeless are working with people dealing with years of issues and still only minimal help received.
This resolution was born out of fear and emotion but also from logic. We’re supposed to pass resolutions, ordinances, and laws based on our feelings. Don’t kill. No stealing. Laws are enacted and enforced worldwide because of those injured victims. This resolution wasn’t supposed to be enforceable because the city is still trying to be kind and understanding. Passing a resolution and not an ordinance is the city trying to look out for everyone living in Aurora who found their way here and has been trying to start a life/family/home here.
One of the people sitting at the meeting table told Chris and anyone listening that the resolution isn’t going to refuse services to those here in Aurora seeking help. Still acting like the council members didn’t immediately respond to his interpretation of the resolution, this article reeks of bitter righteousness and exaggeration. Look at the comments you’re inspiring, even though it’s evident that AuroraBob, Aaron, AND others didn’t attend the meeting. Only 4 of us even watched live from the entire stinking city, but all this “CONCERN” in some comment section…
As Chris Gardner stated, resolution R2024 could have been designed better (though CM Gardner’s argument suggests you must list everything that someone could interpret poorly and make some disclaimer, which is impossible). To address CM Gardner’s concern about prioritizing assistance, it would have been beneficial for the resolution to explicitly state the priority of aiding long-term Aurora residents experiencing homelessness before extending help to the WAVES of newcomers.
The resolution, as CM Jurinsky said, is supposed to send a message to Denver that we see them, we see their “housing first,” (AS mentioned in the meeting, it’s failing to the point that they’re sacrificing services MOST of the city’s poor are using to survive), and WE REFUSE THAT FATE. We can only handle the level of homelessness we’re funded to address. Denver or any other city sending extra people needing help here is something we don’t have funds for if we continue to try and help everyone currently here.
What about all the low-income families breaking the law right now and living two or three surnames deep in a small apartment, catching the bus daily, using food banks, and trying to get their own home going so they can finally adjust some and get the “promised” USA experience? Should we say, “Sorry. Those resources have to go away. New buses arrived. Now, you all can starve outside together?”
I don’t care about the border as many do in the politically motivated sense. I don’t care about it being illegal aliens versus undocumented immigrants. I don’t think Jurinsky or Gardner are “right.” I feel for these people, and my experience as an infantry grunt in the military truly helps me understand what suicidal and pained thoughts are going on under those snowy tarps and tents at night. With that compassion and knowledge, I say that the city of Aurora can’t deal with a crisis of this magnitude without more money. WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH BEFORE THIS. IT’S AURORA, NOT HIGHLANDS RANCH. The city and police still don’t know who killed the guy across the street from me last week.
Again, I’m a Sentinel reader. I don’t mind left-leaning even though I am more middle of the road, politically, after my military experience. The bias in this article was too much. That Jurinsky lady did sound like a Karen/soccer mom with her emotional speeches. I understand, however. She wasn’t just fearful like you claim. She’s UPSET.
It’s disheartening to witness the pain of those who have lost their homes or hope for these new immigrants, as well as the fear and confusion of individuals in my neighborhood who have been and continue to experience homelessness.
You show an enormous lack of compassion in how you worded this article. It felt like you’re saying anyone supporting the intent of this resolution is clutching their pearls in their castle. What pearls? What castle? People DIE right across the street from me randomly. People have been sleeping against the Burger King here at night for almost two years. It would help if you volunteered with these migrants before you pass such an opinionated judgment on what “needs to be done.”
Is Danielle Jurinsky the only Councilmember who even has Aurora’s interests in mind? Much of Aurora’s government serves foreign interests first.
This proposal is not just about using taxpayer money. This is about punishing religious and other non-profit organizations should they decide to provide housing and/or services for migrants and the homeless. What’s next? Concentration camps for those who break the rules? This is absolutely sickening.
Mayor Coffman has no power himself so he and members of the Aurora PD are using Jurinsky and Sundberg as pawns. They were intentionally planted as nominees for the Aurora City council to advance this extreme right-wing agenda for Aurora. The city council is no longer “non partisan”, even though they still claim it is.
Jurinsky is nothing but a hypocrite. She says she feels compelled to go to Israel to support them yet she won’t support her own community members, and particularly the unhoused, right here in Aurora. She gives a sob story about how her family fled to the US after persecution in Europe yet she obviously detests immigrants. She has no local government experience and no education beyond high school. The fact that this person is making these kinds of decisions for a city the size of Aurora should be terrifying to everyone. We need experienced, compassionate and competent people running this city. This is the most corrupt city government that Aurora has ever seen and the people of Aurora deserve to know about it.
This proposal deserved heated debate. It is a very problematic proposal. The proposal should be cleaned up to send a strong message:
Charity organizations should operate without any municipal funds.
City services and funds should be for city residents.
Firemen, police, and EMS should serve all, no exceptions.
Laws, including camping bans & hotel regulations, should be strongly enforced.
Aurora the most diverse city in Colorado. This effort by council is shameful and grows out of Homeless Mike’s horrible stunt to try to blame unhoused for any and all Aurora problems/issues. I am so ashamed of Aurora and that includes the campus ban which criminalizes poverty and homelessness. What a cruel place – which is also examplified by brutal racist APD.
Forever not missing a chance to throw a negative comment about Mayor Mike, eh Debra. Not to mention our APD. I continue to ask you to “lighten up”. I t doesn’t sadden me that someone like yourself is ashamed of Aurora. Be a help, don’t say anything that divides our citizens.
Helping others is one of the things we do to make us feel good about ourselves. It is the basis of all charity and the good in people. What I have a problem with is when people want to do things to feel good about themselves but insist on doing it with other people’s money, and in a way that hurts the community. We cannot stop people who insist on donating their own money to illegal immigrants. But expecting government to do the same is volunteering the tax dollars of others in the community who expect it to be used for the benefit of the citizens of that community. And when those dollars go to help migrants who entered this country illegally, they write home and tell all their neighbors not to worry about the laws here, even the people here don’t care about their own laws. They will give you food, money, a place to stay and safe harbor against the authorities. This leads to the situation we are in, with uncontrolled illegal immigration. Our social safety net already cannot provide for all of our own. The taking on of tens of millions more will surely break the system. We need to think with our minds, not our emotions.
What’s a migrant vs. a refugee, vs. a immigrant? If a non-profit helps a person who fled danger or starvation in their home country is the non-profit in trouble for helping a refugee? Aurora has passed a terrible resolution.