A political feud has erupted between Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman over the placement of migrants in Aurora. In an op-ed published in the Colorado Springs Gazette, Coffman accused Johnston of secretly relocating migrants, including alleged Venezuelan gang members, to Aurora through non-profit organizations.
Coffman claimed that Johnston used non-profits as a cover to “dump migrants” into other cities, an allegation Johnston vehemently denies. “The City of Denver never places anyone anywhere,” Johnston stated, adding that he was blindsided by Coffman’s public accusations.
The controversy stems from Denver’s partnership with two non-profits tasked with finding housing for migrants after more than 40,000 individuals were bussed to Colorado from Texas last year. Johnston explained, “We give them dollars, and they decide on housing,” noting that placements could occur in Denver, Thornton, Northglenn, or other nearby cities.
However, Coffman alleges that one of the non-profits worked with a landlord to place migrants in three Aurora apartment buildings, where incidents involving Venezuelan gang members reportedly terrorized residents. These events attracted national attention, with President-elect Donald Trump pledging mass deportations under a plan dubbed “Project Aurora.”
Coffman further criticized Johnston for a lack of transparency, stating that he filed an open records request to obtain details about the city’s contract with the non-profits. According to Coffman, the contract allowed migrants to be placed in other cities without prior notification.
In his op-ed, Coffman expressed frustration, writing, “Aurora has suffered from a national embarrassment that has harmed the image of our city in a way that could have lasting economic consequences.” He called on Johnston to be transparent about the number of migrants placed in Aurora.
Johnston, however, rejected Coffman’s claims, emphasizing that Aurora is responsible for its own outcomes. “We run the City of Denver, and he runs Aurora. They control the outcomes in their city. We control the outcomes in ours,” Johnston stated.
The escalating tension between the two mayors highlights broader challenges surrounding migrant housing and inter-city cooperation, as communities struggle with the impacts of large-scale migration.