Venezuelan migrants calling Denver home have become resourceful in seeking work to help them build their lives in the city. Limited in opportunities due to a lack of work authorization, they’re often left panhandling on street corners, offering roses or windshield cleaning at intersections, seeking out manual day labor, or other forms of income.
“When you get here, the first recommendation is, ‘Go to a Home Depot, go to a hardware store.’ More than a restaurant, more than anything else, a Home Depot,” said Venezuelan migrant Nelson Flores.
At neighborhood Home Depots, it’s not hard to spot men standing at the parking lot entrance waving as cars pass them by. Day laborers have congregated in hardware store parking lots through the years, but as the migrant population increased in Denver there has been an influx of people looking for work.
“Whether you are a man or a woman, the first place you go is a Home Depot,” Flores said. “There is a possibility that when you arrive there, whatever [work] you do, can earn you five or ten dollars. With good luck, you can obtain a day’s worth of work or at least half.”
Near midday, Flores sits under a tree with his friend Alexis Gonzales looking at cars passing by. Gonzales said he was an oil rig worker back in Venezuela. For the past six months while living in Denver, they have gained experience working in demolition, construction, and before the cold weather, landscaping. Many of these men offer to do manual labor they have never done before but they’re willing to learn and gain experience that can provide them with cash for rent and food.
“One leaves their country with the mentality that regardless of the job description, we are going to learn it, whatever it is, no matter how complex it is,” Flores said. “One must be versatile and learn as quickly as possible.”
Flores and Gonzales said the vast majority of migrants from Venezuela are fleeing the country due to economic and political turmoil. Some have been threatened and others do not agree with the ideology of their government, leaving them cornered with no option but to leave the country.
“I’ve been migrating since I was 16,” Flores said. “Right now the situation is so complex that many of the people I know, many of my friends are selling blood, are selling many things to get some money to survive this complex season.”
Aside from the hardship of making money to provide for themselves, migrants have to jump through the hoops of the work authorization process, which is required to lawfully work in the U.S. To qualify for a permit, migrants must meet one of three criteria: parole, temporary protected status or asylum. After eligibility, migrants must complete the application process, which is only available in English and can cost up to $500. The challenges can seem countless, and migrants are advised to seek legal assistance to help through the entire process.
Bolivian migrant Sergio Choque was among the day laborers looking for work. He quickly offered his manual labor services, “I have experience in home remodeling, landscaping, roofing, whatever you need help with.” Choque has lived with his wife and son in Denver for two years. Although he has been able to create a sustainable life for his family, he continues to visit Home Depot parking lots seeking work.
“I can say with certainty that the United States is a country that gives enormous opportunities to undocumented people, and I say undocumented people because I am one of them,” Choque said. “I have been able to obtain my Colorado driver’s license and I plan on paying taxes to help the state as much as I can.”
Choque said he has experienced a decrease in work recently, but he is not surprised by it. He’s not worried about the newcomers and there are plenty of opportunities for everyone.
“It doesn’t matter where you are from, as long as you are a formal person, know how to work, show loyalty, respect and humility. That’s what matters,” Choque said.
Choque is not eligible to apply for a work permit like many Venezuelan migrants because he arrived years ago. He said the resources offered to newcomers seem unfair to migrants who arrived in Colorado in previous years. His was not offered the opportunity to apply for work authorization or receive shelter upon arrival. However, Choque and his family have created a new life in Denver and are grateful for the opportunities the city offers them.
“I’m very grateful to live here,” Choque said. “The people are nice, and I feel loved here. We are living day by day but we are always looking forward to enjoying and exploring the state.”
Going into this year Denver has provided resources to almost 40,000 migrants.. Mayor Mike Johnston continues his plea for federal aid and expedited work authorization. Johnston met with members of the Biden administration in Washington in an effort to change the requirements and regulations for recent immigrants to give them the ability to work upon entry.
“If folks arrive in our city with the capacity to work, then we can help them succeed,” Johnston told the Washington Examiner.
Flores and Gonzales both envision a future in Colorado with hopes of financial stability. Flores shared that he has saved enough to hire legal assistance, which has helped him through his work authorization process. Gonzales is hoping to follow in his friend’s footsteps.
“Colorado seems to be a very nice, very calm state. It aligns with my personality and what I want in life,” Flores said. “In the future, I want to have legal status here. That would be my priority—also to progress my economic status and to start a family.”