Governor Polis Under Fire for ‘Cringeworthy’ Holiday Message Amidst Migrant Crisis Surge

Governor Jared Polis is facing backlash – from both Republicans and Democrats -- for his social media holiday message, as the state struggles to handle a significant influx of migrants.

Polis posted a video of himself singing “Feliz Navidad” on social media, while dancing side-to side, drawing criticism for his perceived lack of focus on more pressing issues.

The video, posted on Polis’ official Spanish X account, shows the governor joyfully dancing and singing the 1970 hit song by Puerto Rican artist José Feliciano. However, many viewers were quick to point out the state's historic struggle with a crippling migrant crisis.

Governor Jared Polis dances and sings “Feliz Navidad” while grinning like he’s staring in a high school musical. 

As the video made its rounds on social media, some commenters criticized Polis for his “cringeworthy” performance, while others accused him of “pandering” to the Latino community in the state. One user even called it “cultural appropriation.”

This controversy comes at a time when Colorado is facing a surge in its migrant population, with 340 migrants being dropped off in Denver in less than 24 hours between Thursday night and Friday morning. Many of these migrants are coming from Venezuela, Colombia, and Guatemala, and are seeking refuge in several shelters around Denver.

The growing population of migrants has put a strain on the state’s resources and has sparked tensions in some communities.

The small town of Carbondale, for instance, has seen an influx of over 120 Venezuelan migrants recently. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk has expressed concern over the strain on resources and has stated that he does not want the town to become a “destination for people.”

Polis, who was elected in 2018, has faced criticism from Coloradans for his handling of the migrant crisis. In January, he stated that the state was working with nonprofits to help migrants reach their final destination, often New York or Chicago. However, some have questioned the effectiveness of this approach and have expressed frustration over the lack of attention given to the issue.

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The surge in migrants is not unique to Colorado, thanks to the poor border policies of the Biden administration, cities along the border such as El Paso have been overwhelmed by an influx of migrants. US Customs and Border Protection has even suspended cross-border rail traffic in response to migrants riding freight trains through Mexico and entering the US.

As the number of daily arrivals continues to rise, it is clear that the migrant crisis in Colorado and other parts of the country is a pressing issue that requires attention and effective solutions. Many are calling on Governor Polis to address this crisis and stop with the juvenile social media posts.