In Aurora, Colorado, a pregnant woman and her young son face harsh conditions after being forced to leave a homeless shelter in November. Ivanni Herrera, eight months pregnant at the time, had to find a new place to stay with her son, Dylan, and a suitcase of donated items. They ended up in one of the hotels where Denver has temporarily housed over 30,000 migrants, many Venezuelan, in the past two years.
With money earned from begging, Herrera bought a tent at Walmart and set up their new home on a grassy median in Aurora, a suburb known for its immigrant community. The night they moved in, temperatures fell to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and Herrera cried as she tried to keep her son warm.
Over the past two years, many Venezuelans have come to the U.S. in search of a better life. However, they’ve found themselves in communities divided over how much assistance to provide. Without the ability to work legally without costly and complex paperwork, some, including pregnant women, have ended up homeless.
Herrera was inspired to come to the U.S. by social media posts showing successful Venezuelan migrants. Since October 2022, around 320,000 Venezuelans have attempted to cross the U.S. border, according to U.S. Border Patrol.
In Aurora, officials have denied requests to help migrants, citing a lack of financial capacity to fund new services. Yet, the lower cost of living and the presence of a Spanish-speaking community continue to attract migrants.
Herrera received medical care at a Denver hospital, which was alarmed to learn that their pregnant patient was sleeping outside. Despite offers to stay at the hospital for free, Herrera refused, not wanting to leave her son out in the cold.
Denver has struggled to accommodate the influx of migrants, many of whom arrived on buses chartered by Texas to highlight the impact of immigration. The city initially provided six weeks of hotel stays for migrant families but has since reduced this to three days. Some migrants have moved to other cities or nearby towns like Aurora.
Fewer migrants are now coming to Denver, but local nonprofit All Souls still receives many requests for help from social service agencies. The organization had run migrant encampments but was forced to shut them down due to permit issues.
When Herrera went into labor in December, she waited until the last moment to call an ambulance. Her son was born healthy, but the family, including the new baby, soon contracted chickenpox. Herrera has since been offered a way out of homelessness by a local woman who invited them to live with her.
To afford rent and expenses, Herrera and a friend clean homes and do other odd jobs. They also beg for money, which can be inconsistent. Herrera and her husband are now eligible to apply for work permits and legal residency, but they cannot afford the fees.
Herrera is also in debt due to unpaid medical bills for her son’s birth. She avoids seeking medical help, fearing it might affect her immigration status. She has sent for her sister and daughter to join her, but she has not been honest about her living situation.
In a text message, Herrera’s sister asks if they can fly to Denver when they arrive in the U.S. Herrera has to tell her the truth: life in America is much harder than she has let on, and they cannot afford the flight.
