Nonprofits in Aurora, Colorado are pushing back against accusations that they conspired with Denver and state officials to deliberately send immigrants to Aurora. ViVe Wellness and Papagayo have been helping immigrants find housing around the Denver metro area for the past couple of years. Their work has come under scrutiny in light of recent attention on Aurora during the presidential race.
Leaders of the nonprofits deny any conspiracy with government officials to relocate immigrants to Aurora, stating that immigrants led their own housing search and chose to live near others they knew from Denver shelters. The nonprofits have faced backlash online and have been singled out in conservative articles, but they maintain that their focus is on supporting immigrants and that they operate on a reimbursement basis, not money laundering.
Aurora City Council recently approved a measure to investigate who provided grants used by nonprofits to help relocate immigrants. The leaders of ViVe Wellness and Papagayo believe this investigation will only create more fear and invade people’s privacy, ultimately hindering their efforts to support immigrants.
Despite the online attacks and accusations, the nonprofits remain committed to their work and hope that the situation will improve after the presidential election. They emphasize the importance of focusing on the community and continuing to provide the support that immigrants need during this challenging time.
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