Venezuelan Migrant in Denver Fights for Work Permit in Quest for Stability
In a quest for stability and a fresh start, Emily Borges, a former police officer from Venezuela, is fighting for the opportunity to work in Denver. Borges fled her home country after facing threats within her own police agency due to her dedication to her job amid widespread corruption.
After a perilous journey to the United States, Borges and her two-year-old daughter arrived at the southern border in December and made their way to Denver, where they have been staying in a shelter hotel. Borges has been seeking any job she can find, such as cleaning houses, but in order to secure a regular job and income, she needs a work permit.
However, time is of the essence for Borges as she has just three weeks left on the time limit set by Denver for migrant families in its shelters. Unfortunately, the process of obtaining federal work authorization often takes more than six months for asylum seekers.
In an interview, Borges expressed the challenges of starting from scratch in a new country without proper documentation, stating, “It’s hard to be here, to be here without papers and starting from scratch.” She emphasized the importance of receiving assistance to open the doors for employment opportunities, rather than seeking handouts.
Borges is among the millions of migrants who have fled Venezuela’s unstable political, economic, and humanitarian conditions in recent years. Many have sought asylum in the United States, with tens of thousands finding their way to Denver. The lengthy and complex process of obtaining legal status has forced many migrants to wait for years while building their lives in the city.
For these migrants, the opportunity to work is not just a means of making a living, but also a path to self-sufficiency and a way to reduce pressure on local governments that support newcomers. While federal law allows immigrants to obtain work permits while their asylum cases are pending, the waiting periods vary depending on the circumstances of their application.
Borges and others like her are turning to the city of Denver for support in their pursuit of work permits, hoping for assistance in navigating the complex immigration process. As they await a resolution to their asylum cases, the ability to work is crucial for their survival and integration into their new community.
The struggle for migrants like Borges highlights the challenges and barriers they face in seeking a fresh start in a new country, and the need for support and assistance in their journey towards stability and self-sufficiency.