DENVER – As the new Trump administration trades criticism with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, those living in the Mile High City mostly told Fox News Digital they’d rather see action than “bragging.”
“I think they both have a lot of bragging rights,” Rob said. “Just solve the damn problem. That’s all we want.”
AND viral video of alleged Venezuelan gang members carrying guns through an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, put the spotlight on immigration in the Denver area last year.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he is prepared to declare a national emergency and potentially use military assets as part of a mass deportation effort.
That prompted Johnston to predict “Tiananmen Square moment” complete with police deployment and protesters meeting federal immigration officials at the county border. He has since retracted those comments, but said it anyway 9News in November that he was willing to go to jail for standing in the way of the Trump administration’s promised crackdown.
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in November pushed back on his suggestion that city police could be deployed to resist federal immigration officials, but said he was personally willing to face arrest to prevent residents from having their “rights violated.” (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
“It’s not gonna happen. This is a no-nonsense burger. It’s not gonna happen, dude,” George said Fox News Digital when asked about the mayor’s comments. “I think it’s mostly just bragging rights.”
George, who said he “doesn’t necessarily believe in borders in general,” also doubts mass deportations would be logistically possible.
Shane shared that skepticism, although he said the influx of migrants in recent years had put a strain on the community.
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“There are already 1.2 million [people] who are already scheduled for deportation anyway and probably won’t be able to find and track them,” he said.
The war of words continued with Tom HomanTrump’s pick for “border czar,” telling Sean Hannity that he and the Denver mayor “agree on one thing.”
“He’s willing to go to jail, I’m willing to put him in jail,” Homan said.
Former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Thomas Homan said he is willing to put Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in jail if he gets in the way of federal deportation efforts. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
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“I don’t think it’s very helpful,” Josh said of the discourse. “President Trump was too aggressive on this issue. We should find a middle ground. I don’t think Biden had it right either.”
While the president-elect says removing illegal immigrants who have committed crimes is a priority, his administration is ready to move on to law-abiding immigrants after that.
Denver residents Fox News Digital spoke to were divided on whether they support deporting people who are in the country illegally.
“We had an influx of migrants. I know it’s hard for our city, but I don’t like it [Trump’s] approach and the feel of it,” Karen said. “I believe in the story of Americans and immigration.”
Denver has faced a large influx of migrants in recent years amid a crisis along the southern US border. (Photo by Chet Strange / AFP)
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Rob said he believes “70% of Americans sit somewhere in the middle” of the issue.
“But what you’re really hearing is two poles screaming, and I really don’t think that serves the public,” he said.
Mayor Johnston’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for an interview. Not even a few city councilors.
