Immigrants prepare for Denver’s Elitch Gardens camp sweep | News [Video]

Juan Carlos — who said he traveled from Peru through several jungles and crossed the U.S. border — found himself living in three different immigrant encampments in Denver in as many months.

In multiple ways, his story is a microcosm of the crisis that began to engulf the city some 16 months ago, when immigrants who illegally crossed the southern border headed for America’s interior cities, such as Denver, New York and Chicago.

Notably, it illustrates Mayor Mike Johnston’s response — and some of the results.

Under fiscal strain, Denver — which has effectively embraced the “sanctuary city” label; the city says it “continues to remain a welcoming city for all newcomers” — has opened and then closed shelters for immigrants, and lengthened and then shortened the time they could stay at places via vouchers that ultimately expire.

Like Carlos, some of the immigrants have cycled through the city’s shelters.

Inside a building one day.

Out in the open the next.

…