Colorado has experienced a surge of migrant arrivals in recent years. In 2023 alone, for example, many have traveled from Venezuela. The migrant groups relocating here come from all different backgrounds, influenced by their own experiences – such as the urgency to flee conflict, persecution, climate change, or large-scale human rights violations in their home countries.
As we observe the current influx of Venezuelan migrants, we have witnessed firsthand the challenges and triumphs people have encountered as they navigate the complexities of immigration and strive to settle into their new home.
Amy Ruth knows the challenges and triumphs all too well. Her own transformative journey begins with her arrival to Colorado as a Thai refugee, and leads to her role as an experienced community navigator.
Ruth’s journey from Thailand – which began seven years ago – offers a portrait of the struggles and successes of immigrant groups striving to build lives in the U.S., specifically in Aurora and the Denver metro area. She recounts the hurdles she encountered upon her arrival, including overcoming language barriers and navigating the nuances of accessing healthcare and assistive benefits. Experiences like hers emphasize the importance of tailored support systems such as community resources and special case managers, to facilitate the integration process and ensure equitable access to essential services. Ruth’s experience sheds light on broader issues faced by immigrant communities.
Amid efforts to recover from the pandemic, she found a meaningful role at the East Colfax Community Collective (ECCC), offering her a chance to contribute to and engage with the community – particularly migrants. However, the lasting impact of the pandemic brought forth additional obstacles, notably in healthcare access for her family.
“The pandemic was extremely hard for us, especially for my mom who wasn’t able to apply for Medicaid because of income requirements despite me being the only one working at the time. It was one thing to try to access health services but for people like my mom, who just moved to Colorado, trying to go through the application process was very difficult,” she says.
She notes that a lack of access to healthcare services and challenges applying for and understanding insurance were common themes for many migrants she encountered, especially for Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (AANHPI) people. She experienced the threat of losing Medicaid coverage due to delays in the application process, revealing systemic flaws affecting vulnerable households.
Another prominent issue Ruth highlights is the housing crisis faced by AANHPI and other immigrant groups in metro Denver. Escalating rents, sometimes increasing by $300 annually, forced families into overcrowded living situations, with multiple individuals sharing a two-bedroom apartment.
Among the barriers faced by the AANHPI community, language and education also emerged as significant challenges. “The AANHPI community alone has so many unique dialects and languages and sometimes that can be overwhelming and [often overlooked.]”
Ruth describes a time when she tried to assist her mother in translating a document that a case worker had given her, but that it was in the wrong dialect of the Thai language her mother speaks. Limited educational opportunities prior to immigration have also hindered access to jobs requiring English proficiency, leaving many individuals stuck in low-wage positions.
She urges decision-makers to move beyond assumptions and actively engage with the community to truly understand their needs. To address these issues, she stresses the necessity of action over mere promises. Building trust, she argues, requires tangible changes that the community can witness.
In terms of successful partnerships, she highlights the positive impact of collaborating with organizations such as ECCC where she worked, or the Asian Pacific Development Center (now Aurora Mental Health and Recovery’s Cultural Development and Wellness Center) and local food banks. These partnerships can provide migrants real, vital support, offering assistance with food, mental health services and program enrollments.
Ruth sees opportunities for both individuals and state leaders. “Many people have the freedom to voice their concerns and advocate for themselves. Instead, they often are afraid and hide or try to downplay their struggles, believing they are powerless to affect change, especially because of where they migrated from or how their journey was when arriving here but that’s not true…every voice has power. And it would be more helpful if the community and the state worked together to help all of them,” she says.
“So, I would encourage people to speak up because collective voices have the power to create meaningful change.”
Editor’s note: This story is part of the Colorado Lotus Project report. The Colorado AAPI Circle, in partnership with the Colorado Health Institute released the findings of a groundbreaking new report that highlights Colorado’s Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. The Colorado Lotus Project is a first-of-its-kind effort to elevate the unique voices and experiences of the many different AANHPI people in the state. The report uses novel analysis methods to break apart larger data sources to highlight distinctions and nuances within Colorado’s AANHPI community. It incorporates interviews and storytelling to highlight the diverse experiences of AANHPI Coloradans and provides important calls to action.
For more information and to view the full report, visit https://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/news/new-report-highlights-barriers-and-opportunities-colorados-aanhpi-communities
