Fox News confirmed Friday that a vacant elementary school building in Denver, Colorado, may be turned into a migrant shelter.

A spokesperson for Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston said the building has been “identified as a potential migrant shelter, but nothing is final and there’s no paperwork,” adding the city has been “looking for buildings that would be suited as an emergency shelter.” 

A spokesperson for Denver Public Schools, which owns the vacant building, told Fox News, “No determination has been made yet.”

ICE CONFIRMS AURORA, COLORADO GANG MEMBERS ARE IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY, RELEASED BY BIDEN ADMIN

Denver is a sanctuary city, meaning it does not enforce immigration law, nor does the city cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

“The location you reference has been looked at as a possible site to provide temporary shelter for newcomers,” Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for the Denver mayor’s office, clarified to Fox News. “No decisions have been made, nor contracts signed.

“It’s also probably worth pointing out that very few newcomers are in shelter at this time. In all of August, we saw around 150 people come through our shelter system, many of whom stayed for only a matter of hours before departing for other locations.”

GOP lawmakers have sounded the alarm on sanctuary city and open border policies in light of transnational gang activity in Colorado. The Tren de Aragua gang has been involved in apartment takeovers in Aurora, as seen in viral surveillance video that surfaced last week.

“The situation in Aurora, Colorado, is just the tip of the iceberg of the problems that come with the Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies. While gangs overrun our cities, Gov. Polis and Mayor Coffman are complicit in the violence unfolding there that is putting Americans in danger,” Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna told Fox News Digital. 

“These criminals are reportedly involved in human trafficking and sexual abuse of minors. We must quickly put an end to the wave of illegal aliens pouring into our country and ensure that justice is served for the victims of these monstrous acts.”

VENEZUELAN GANG’S ALLEGED TAKEOVER OF AURORA, COLORADO APARTMENTS BEGAN IN 2023: REPORT

Four Venezuelan nationals confirmed to be involved with Tren de Aragua were arrested in Aurora in a shooting outside one of the overtaken apartment buildings July 28.

In a letter shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation, GOP lawmakers wrote, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s open border policies coupled with the state of Colorado’s sanctuary policies and the city of Denver’s sanctuary city status have fueled and exasperated the immigration crisis in Colorado.”

The GOP lawmakers who penned the letter include Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Lauren Boebert, Doug Lamborn and Greg Lopez of Colorado.

This apartment building was overrun by alleged gang members who changed the locks, according to one resident. (Council member Danielle Jurinsky)

“Multiple local elected officials and the nonpartisan Perkins Coie law firm that was hired to investigate the takeover have confirmed numerous criminal acts committed by TdA gang members including threats of murder, robbery, extortion, trespassing, assaults and battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug related crimes, stolen vehicles, human trafficking and sexual abuse of minors,” the letter continued.

“Non sanctuary cities and neighboring communities have suffered harm from these policies and don’t have the resources or authorities to mitigate the influx of illegal aliens and TdA gang members.”

Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky told Fox News Digital, “Denver’s sanctuary policies and their approach to handling this migrant crisis is further exacerbating the problem and continuing to put American kids last.”

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The offices of representatives Roy and Boebert did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment before publication.

We’re back with another season of predicting the score here at Mile High Report. Expect the optimism to again be Rocky Mountain high here, but we’ve all rapidly become bo-lievers in the 2024 Denver Broncos and only some bad outcomes in games will start to change that mood.

With Bo Nix, we should temper those expectations as he is a rookie making his first NFL start against a decent Seattle Seahawks team in front of a very hostile crowd. Win or lose, I think most of us hope to see good decision-making and efficiency from the rook, along with a solid run game and good defense.

As for score predictions, the consensus final score from our staff is a 26-19 Broncos road win over the Seahawks. Always with the optimism in Week 1 and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here is how we see things playing out on an individual basis:

Broncos 20, Seahawks 16

In a tight game, the Broncos get one more red zone touchdown than Seattle and eek out a tough road win to start the season. The difference maker being the Broncos’ interior defensive line that is suddenly a force to be reckoned with after being a bit of a weakness last season. Bo Nix has a an efficient, if pedestrian, stat line where the offense is mostly carried by a solid 1-2 punch from Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin. 1-0 would surely feel good. – Tim Lynch

Broncos 27, Seahawks 14

Bo Nix doesn’t make the spectacular play, but it’s his consistency that is spectacular. He relentlessly marches his team down the field, wearing Seattle down. The defense gets to do something it rarely does — play with a lead. They enjoy this very much. – Mike DeCicco

Broncos 24, Seahawks 20

The Bo Nix Era starts off with a win on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. This will be a good test for the Broncos’ offensive line and Nix. with Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Dre’Mont Jones, Johnathan Hankins and Byron Murphy II are quality players on their defensive line. How the Broncos’ offensive line holds up and Nix deals with pressure will be a major tipping point in this game. I’ve got the Broncos winning this one and starting off the season on the right foot. – Chris Hart

Broncos 26, Seahawks 19

I expect a few bumps in the road, but this game reads like a win. The Broncos are going to surprise some people this season, and they will grab a win here. Bo Nix will lean on the run game, and follow that up with mostly quick short passes. Sean Payton will control the clock, and with a few touchdowns and field goals, the Bo Nix era will be off and running. – Adam Malnati

Broncos 24, Seahawks 20

Let’s be real: neither fanbase has a very clear idea of what these two teams are. This will be the first opportunity for both to show what they are to the world under vastly different circumstances than they had last season. This prediction is based off numbers I hit on a dart board, because anyone saying they have a pulse on what Denver and Seattle will do Week 1 is full of nonsense. – Sadaraine

Broncos 27, Seahawks 23

Nix throws two TDs while the defense comes up with a few turnovers and a late stop to get the big road win. The good news is Payton and Nix will know the situation and not rely on Wil Lutz to kick a 64-yard field goal to win the game. The Nix era starts with a big road win. – Ian St. Clair

Broncos 31, Seahawks 17

Bo Nix will lead the Broncos to an opening week victory and continue the success we saw during the preseason. In a tough environment, the rookie QB throws for 2 TDs and for 250+ yards. The Broncos run game will be consistent and be a difference maker in this game. Jaleel McLaughlin will make plays as a runner and receiver in this one.

The Broncos pass rush will get after Geno Smith all game and forcing him to throw two INTs. Ja’Quan McMillion will get one and Brandon Johnson will get another to win over Broncos Country.

The Seahawks have had the Broncos number in recent history but this game will finally turn the tide in the Broncos favor. – Scotty Payne

Broncos 27, Seahawks 23

It’ll be a close game, but there’s no way that this ends up like their previous Week 1 matchup from a couple of years ago. The Seahawks do pose a formidable threat with their front seven and exotic and common blitzing scheme from that new head coach Mike Macdonald brought from Baltimore, but the Payton and Denver’s offensive line have had all offseason to prepare for it. As long as they can get the run game going, Bo Nix’s ability to make pre-snap reads and get the ball out of his hands quickly should go a long way on Sunday. – Ross Allen

What is your score prediction for the Broncos-Seahawks game? Let us know in the comments section below.

The City of Denver has purchased a former hotel used as a homeless shelter after leasing it for a year.

The city closed on the purchase of the onetime Doubletree at 4040 N. Quebec St. last week, paying $43 million, according to public records.

Denver bought the 300-room property on the edge of the Central Park neighborhood from Rocky Mountain Communities, a nonprofit that bought it last November for $39 million, records show. 

The nonprofit bought it with a deal with the city already in place: Denver would lease the hotel for $83,333 a month for up to 15 months, and have an option to purchase the property. The option called for the city to pay up to $43 million, with the monthly rent already paid credited toward the purchase price, according to previous BusinessDen reporting.

Lisa Lumley, the city’s director of real estate, told council members last year that the deal was structured that way because the city expected to receive a state grant that it would use for the purchase, but “We need to hold off on any real commitments until we receive our documents from the state.”

Derek Woodbury, spokesman for Denver’s Department of Housing Stability, said in an email this week that the purchase “ensures the sustainability of this property as needed shelter and a re-housing hub.”

“Thanks to State funds awarded to Denver through the Denver-Metro Regional Navigation Campus grant program, the site will also serve as a navigation center for people experiencing homelessness with walk-up services to include housing navigation, and physical and behavioral health care services,” Woodbury said.

The Salvation Army is managing the property until the end of this year as part of a $10 million contract approved in November.

The deal was one of several hotel purchases or leases by the city around the time that Mayor Mike Johnston assumed office and started an effort to reduce visible homelessness around Denver.

Prior to the purchase by Rocky Mountain Communities, the hotel last sold for $24.4 million in 2022. Speaking to BusinessDen last year, Rocky Mountain Communities CEO Mark Marshall characterized that deal as “kind of a fire sale.” He noted it occurred while the pandemic was still a lingering issue, and said it was part of a portfolio sale, when assets typically sell for less than they might have fetched if sold individually.

The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, or CHFA, and the Urban Land Conservancy provided financing for the acquisition by Rocky Mountain Communities.