Denver to make $45M in budget cuts to pay for arriving migrants

The city of Denver will have to make $45 million in cuts so that it doesn't have to lay off or furlough city employees to deal with its migrant crisis.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston made the announcement on Wednesday as the city's expenses have skyrocketed from an estimated 40,000 migrants that have entered the city since December 2022. The city's expenses to serve the arriving migrants increased from $2 million per month in August 2023 to $15 million a month by December 2023. The city stated it has spent more than $68 million serving the migrants.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott stated in March that his state has transported more than 16,900 migrants to Denver since May 18.

“After more than a year of facing this crisis together, Denver finally has a sustainable plan for treating our newcomers with dignity while avoiding the worst cuts to city services,” Johnston said in a media release.

The city's new Denver Asylum Seekers Program will accept 1,000 migrants currently in the city's system. The city said that since they are seeking asylum, they have to wait at least 180 days after applying for asylum to get authorization to work.

The city stated it will cost $89.9 million in 2024 to serve the arriving migrants, which the city refers to as "newcomers."