'Talk about pandering': Colorado Gov Jared Polis trolled for embarrassing ‘Feliz Navidad’ rendition amid growing migrant crisis

DENVER, COLORADO: At a time of increasing concern over the immigration crisis in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis is facing harsh criticism for his recent 'Feliz Navidad' holiday message. The controversy erupted just days after Denver received 16 busloads of migrants, adding strain to the state's already stretched resources.

Jared Polis's festive message draws ire

Governor Polis, 48, shared a video of himself dancing joyfully and delivering an acapella rendition of Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano's 1970 hit song on Monday, December 25.

The clip, posted under his official Spanish X account, was met with ridicule on social media, with some accusing the governor of "pandering" to the growing Latino community in the state.

"Talk about pandering," one posted on X.

"My God, what a freak of nature," another wrote.

"This is ridiculous and you look as uncomfortable doing it as I did watching it. What was the real purpose of this?” someone else wrote in Spanish under the clip. “Because if I were of Latin descent, I would make fun of you instead of thinking, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to vote for that guy.’”

"What exactly is your hand motion supposed to represent? Whoever talked you into this does not have your best interests at heart," a comment read.

"Pander harder; your legal constituents hate you," another added.

The timing of the holiday message coincided with a significant increase in migrants being dropped off in Denver, with at least 340 individuals arriving in less than 24 hours from Thursday night to Friday morning, as reported by CBS News.

Many of these migrants traveled from Venezuela, Colombia, and Guatemala, further intensifying the challenges faced by the city.

Denver struggles to accommodate growing migrant population

The influx of migrants has strained Denver's resources, with over 3,800 migrants now in various shelters across the city. Jon Ewing, the Denver Human Services Spokesman, expressed concerns about running out of room and resources.

“We can run out of resources. We are already limited as it is. It strains an already strained system even further," Ewing told CBS News.

Efforts are underway to find employment for the migrants and prevent them from ending up on the streets, especially those arriving with children. Denver officials are working diligently to accommodate the growing population and avoid exacerbating an already challenging situation.

“We recognize everything is much more difficult with a child," Ewing added. "This is why we have given families more time. We don’t want children on the streets. We don’t want anyone on the streets.”

As the migrant population expands in Colorado, tensions rise among community members.

One Shell Gas Station employee, identified only as Gerena, described difficulties in communication and cultural clashes.

“I am the only one that speaks Spanish," she told CBS News. "I tried to help them. I tried to explain the rules, but they don’t like it. There are too many people. They are so bad with me and with my boss.”

The situation extends beyond Denver, as the small town of Carbondale, 170 miles west of Denver, grapples with an influx of over 120 Venezuelan migrants seeking refuge. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk expressed concerns about becoming a "destination for people," signaling the widespread impact of the immigration crisis.

Polis under fire for his handling of migrant crisis

Governor Polis, elected in 2018, has faced growing criticism from Coloradans and constituents regarding his handling of the migrant crisis. In January, Polis stated that Colorado was collaborating with nonprofits to assist migrants in reaching their desired final destinations, often New York and Chicago, emphasizing that many were just passing through the state.

Denver's location, about 700 miles north of El Paso on Interstate 25, places it in a challenging position amid the overwhelming influx of migrants in the border city since 2021. The recent suspension of cross-border rail traffic in Texas cities due to migrants riding freight trains through Mexico has added to the unprecedented challenges faced by border authorities.

The acting commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, Troy Miller, described the number of daily arrivals as "unprecedented," with illegal crossings surpassing 10,000 some days across the border in December, per the New York Post.

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