Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced a groundbreaking $45 million funding package to address the influx of migrants in the city, resulting in over $8 million in budget cuts for the police department. The move comes as Denver grapples with a surge in migrant arrivals, with spending on migrants skyrocketing from $2 million a month to $15 million in just a few months.
The funding will support programs for newcomers in the city, including the creation of a Denver Asylum Seekers Program and a WorkReady program to help migrants with housing assistance and job training. The city has already helped over 40,000 migrants in the past 16 months, at a cost of more than $68 million.
Despite the budget cuts, the mayor’s office assures that there will be no impact on public services, with 167 new police recruits set to be added to the force in 2024. A spokesperson for Mayor Johnston emphasized that the adjustments are not a defunding of the police but rather a reallocation of funds to support essential services.
This move by Denver is part of a larger trend among liberal cities facing challenges with migrant arrivals. New York City and Chicago have also grappled with budget pressures due to the influx of migrants, highlighting the need for a coordinated national effort to address the issue.
