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Opinion: Between a rock and a hard place, we must care for the South American migrants

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Opinion: Between a rock and a hard place, we must care for the South American migrants


If only navigating public policy were like a “choose your own adventure” novel where the right choices lead inexorably to a successful and satisfying ending. In real life, there are no solutions, only imperfect options, difficult trade-offs, and partial remedies. To complicate matters, sometimes the most ethical choice is the least practical.

The current migrant crisis is one such case. Denver has made the right decision and born the cost while other Front Range cities have shut their doors.

In addition to Ukrainians and Afghans who come to our shores by plane, a record number of migrants from Venezuela, Central America, the Caribbean, and other places are coming daily by land.

Thanks to dysfunction at the border — too few judges, too loose a standard for qualifying for asylum, and too little room in detention centers — most migrants at the southern border are allowed to enter the country with the expectation they will attend a court hearing in the future. According to Department of Justice data, more than half of those released into the country attend their hearing.

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Some of these migrants meet the definition of asylee; they have suffered harm because of their race, religion, political affiliations, or other distinctions and are likely to be abused or killed if they return. In 2022, less than a third of Venezuelan applicants were granted asylum, a higher percentage than other Latin American applicants. This suggests a majority of asylum seekers are fleeing poverty rather than persecution.

Since the socialist takeover, life in Venezuela has descended into poverty and oppression. Middle-class workers like nurses and teachers make $3 a month. Critics of the government are jailed and tortured. People disappear. More than 7 million Venezuelans have left the country, the vast majority of which, 86%, are living in Latin America and the Caribbean. Colombia alone has absorbed 2 million fleeing Venezuelans.

When migrants arrive, they seek available work. In the U.S., asylum seekers may apply for work permits but must wait six months. Those who have received Temporary Protected Status or humanitarian parole can work sooner. In the interim, migrants must rely on relatives, nonprofits, and communities to meet their daily needs.

The City of Denver recently spent $42 million to provide support for some 38,000 migrants. Presently, 4,000 migrants are housed in temporary shelters. Although the city has received $3.5 million from the state, most of the funding has come from Denver’s budget. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has asked city departments to cut back and has announced cuts to Parks and Recreation and Denver Motor Vehicle offices. Meanwhile, UCHealth has spent $17 million over the past three months to treat migrant patients. Denver Public Schools have absorbed the cost of enrolling 3,000 new students from migrant families.

By contrast, Colorado Springs and Lakewood have essentially closed their doors to migrants. The Colorado Springs City Council passed a resolution stating the city is not a sanctuary city and will not spend public funds to support illegal immigrants. Officials also urged nonprofits not to help migrants after learning the Colorado Springs Salvation Amy had helped 24 migrant families.

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The Lakewood City Council hosted a packed meeting of denizens concerned about false rumors the city was considering becoming a sanctuary city and offering shelter to migrants. City council members have assured them they have no intention.

A “sanctuary city” refers to a jurisdiction that has chosen to limit police cooperation with federal law enforcement. Denver, Aurora and Boulder all limit such cooperation, but only Boulder has officially adopted the label. The state also limits police cooperation and provides immigrants here without legal status access to instate tuition, financial aid, driver’s licenses, housing assistance, and occupational licenses. Colorado could be considered a sanctuary state.

Could these policies encourage settlement of migrants with asylum claims awaiting adjudication or illegal immigrants? That’s worth discussing, but changing the laws now will not help the migrants who need a place to sleep and a bite to eat.

Does Congress need to address the deficiencies at the border in a bipartisan way? Certainly, and in ordinary times it might be possible. This is an election year.

Are people frustrated by migrants wading into traffic with squeegees and worried about the impact of immigration on hospitals, schools, and city budgets? Understandably, yes. There are no good solutions.

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In this between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place situation, however, Denver (and the Colorado Springs Salvation Army) have nonetheless made the best choice. They fed the hungry, bandaged their wounds, taught their children, and gave them a place to rest their heads.

Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer.

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Denver, CO

Bo Nix’s footwork is “a lot better” as he plays under center more. Coincidence?

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Bo Nix’s footwork is “a lot better” as he plays under center more. Coincidence?


On the first of Bo Nix’s four touchdown passes against Green Bay, he did what he does more frequently than any quarterback in football.

Nix escaped from the pocket and took off running. He moved up and to the left before hitting Michael Bandy for a 20-yard catch-and-scamper.

The next three touchdowns, though, are where the Broncos offense can dream about a deep postseason run or even more.

Nix, operating from the gun, delivered strikes of all shapes and sizes and did so with clean footwork in the pocket.

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He identified coverage, took a short, one-step drop and fired a perfectly placed low ball to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Then a three-step drop to get the ball up and down with beautiful pace and timing to Courtland Sutton one-on-one up the right sideline.

Nix polished off the fourth touchdown when he five-step dropped, hitched up in the pocket twice and uncorked a rocket up the seam for Troy Franklin on a motion and route concept the Broncos have made hay on most of the year.

The Packers game represented a breakout as Nix completed 23 of 34 passes for 302 yards and the four touchdowns, but his game’s been heating up more broadly over the past month.

He had an efficient day in a much different style against Las Vegas, completing 31 of 38 passes and engineering three battering-ram touchdown drives. He threw for 616 yards in the two weeks before that in wins over Washington and Kansas City.

In those four games, Nix has completed 69.5% of his passes for 282.5 yards per game and thrown five touchdowns and an interception. Before that stretch, he completed 60.9% and averaged 212 yards per game.

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What’s changed? Start from the ground up.

“I think his footwork has got a lot better,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Thursday. “And the way he handles himself in the pocket, trusting the protection. We’ve talked about it all year and the last four games he’s done a really good job of that.

“He’s moving when he needs to and he’s hanging in there when he needs to.”

Head coach Sean Payton earlier this season said the quarterbacks get some specific footwork drilling done during a normal game week but not a ton. They’ll work a particular concept or drop between periods, but for the most part, the work is plan-specific.

Nix, though, has been working on his own pocket presence in his own ways in recent weeks.

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“I think he’s probably one of the best … at learning from mistakes, and looking in the mirror and seeing what his weaknesses are,” tight end Evan Engram told The Post.

“He’s sitting in there, he’s trusting the protection, he’s letting it rip. And that’s something that he saw. And he worked on. And like – I can’t say how hard that is. I’ve never done it in my life. You’ve got freakin’ monsters rushing you, every play. And credit to the O-line, too.

The staff also appears to be doing a better job of helping get Nix into good rhythm. Part of that is by playing more frequently from under center. The touchdowns outlined above came out of shotgun, but one commonly held belief is that playing from under center helps keep footwork clean because a quarterback is forced to do it coming back from the center.



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Nikola Jokic passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most assists by center in NBA history as Nuggets beat Magic

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Nikola Jokic passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most assists by center in NBA history as Nuggets beat Magic


For his latest trick, Nikola Jokic dribbled into oncoming traffic and escaped unscathed.

Sometimes after he reels in a defensive rebound, the Nuggets center prefers to launch an aerial attack with one of his long outlet passes. This time, he brought the ball with him up on his usual route up the middle of the floor. Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. trailed him by a step. Up ahead, Tyus Jones veered into his lane from the left, sensing an opportunity to pick the pocket of a lumbering big man.

But Jokic is nimble. Before Jones could cut across his front side, he anticipated the attempted swipe and transferred his dribbling hand with a behind-the-back move that shouldn’t have looked so graceful. Jones whiffed. Carter caught up, but Jokic decelerated to allow him to pass. Then the newly minted best passing center of all time went behind the back again — this time, a dime to Jamal Murray, who finished the play with a lefty floater.

Denver’s stars were just showing off at that point in the third quarter of a 126-115 win over the Magic that wasn’t always so smooth-sailing.

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DENVER , CO – DECEMBER 18: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets passes behind his back as Tyus Jones (2) of the Orlando Magic watches during the third quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 18, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

It was a monumental night. At 30 years old and 302 days, Jokic passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Thursday for the most assists by a center in NBA history. Coming into the game, all he needed was six to match Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 5,660. He finished the evening with 13, highlighting a 23-point, 11-rebound triple-double.

“For those of us that love the history of the game, that one should be wrote about and talked about, and that should be a national story,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “Because that’s passing a guy that you could argue — if you just want to go by generations and not, ‘Who’s the best player of all time?’ and all the talk-talk stuff — Kareem is in the conversation. Look at his MVPs. Look at the winning. And our guy tonight from Denver just passed him in a category.”

“This is a time that I can be able to look back and appreciate all the years I’ve had to play this game with him,” Murray said. “It’s special. Passing Kareem in anything is pretty cool. So I think it just speaks to his greatness and how unselfish he is.”

Jokic has also passed other Hall of Famers including Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson on the all-time list this season, now ranking 50th overall in career assists. Next up for him to catch is another legendary passer, Larry Bird. Jokic is 28 away from tying him.

“I always say the assist makes two people happy (instead of one). My coach ‘Deki,’ he always said that,” Jokic said Thursday, paying homage to the late Golden State Warriors and Mega Basket coach Dejan Milojevic.

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“Maybe it’s not a splashy pass or whatever,” the three-time MVP continued, “but I think when you make the right play, you’re going to feel good about yourself.”

Adelman was especially adamant about the historical significance of the occasion. He gave Jokic the game ball in Denver’s locker room after the win.

“It’s such a cool thing, because it’s Kareem, who was passed by LeBron (James) as the all-time leading scorer, which puts in perspective who Nikola passed,” Adelman said. “So it’s a celebration of both people. It’s somebody that completely changed the game. The sky hook. The longevity. … I feel like in the modern era, we talk about Tom Brady and all these people. But go look at Kareem. The guy changed his name while he played. The guy plays 20-plus years and, until the very end, was impactful on teams that went to the Finals. So for Nikola to pass him, I think, says a lot. And if we’re going to celebrate what LeBron did, (we should celebrate this also). And I know it’s a different kind of thing because it’s a center, it’s a position. I’ll just keep saying it. Just don’t get tired of this, because it’s unique.”

Jokic is also closing in on Oscar Robertson for second all-time in triple-doubles. Thursday was his 177th, bringing him within four of the iconic guard. He became the first center in league history to average a triple-double last season, and he’s on pace to do so again this year with 29.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game.

Orlando called a timeout after Jokic and Murray combined for that saucy transition bucket in the third quarter. As they sauntered to the huddle, Nuggets assistant coaches Ognjen Stojakovic and JJ Barea could only laugh at the duo’s skill and panache.

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DENVER , CO - DECEMBER 18: Assistant coach Ognjen Stojakovic laughs as the Orlando Magic take a timeout during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 126-115 win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 18, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO – DECEMBER 18: Assistant coach Ognjen Stojakovic laughs as the Orlando Magic take a timeout during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 126-115 win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 18, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

“That’s how kind of we made our staple in that second unit growing up, was just the give-and-go,” Murray said of Jokic’s passing. “… A lot of give-and-go, and you could see his court vision and his fluidity.”

The Nuggets did most of their work Thursday during an astonishing second quarter. They flipped a 47-33 deficit with a 35-7 run that only took the last 6:26 of the first half. Murray scored 20 of his 32 points in the frame. Reserve point guard Jalen Pickett ignited the comeback and was a plus-26 in eight minutes of playing time that quarter.

Both teams were short-handed at Ball Arena. Orlando was fending without Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Denver was down three of its best defenders with Peyton Watson (right trunk contusion) ruled out shortly before tip, joining Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon on the shelf.

In Watson’s place, Bruce Brown started his first game as a Denver Nugget since April 9, 2023. David Adelman used 10 of his 11 available players, including Julian Strawther, who was cleared to play earlier this week after missing a month with a back injury.



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Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/17-12/21 – 303 Magazine

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Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/17-12/21 – 303 Magazine


When: Dec 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Fight Club – 1959 16th St Mall Denver
Cost: Price varies
The Lowdown: 

Guests have the option of $39 bottomless flatbreads, which includes the price of their oche reservation for Social Darts®. The bottomless flatbread menu features Smoked Salmon Flatbread, Four Cheese Flatbread, Breakfast Flatbread, or Garden Vegetable Flatbread. Guests can also order off the á la carte menu, which includes a fresh-cut fruit plate, breakfast sliders,, avocado toast, and Flight Club’s famous churros.





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