Sanctuary city Denver spending a whopping $356 million on migrants: study
Democratic Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s unwavering opposition to Trump’s mass deportation plan has put him at odds with the administration, with Johnston even stating that he would be willing to go to jail over his stance. However, a recent study has shed light on the staggering amount of taxpayer money that has been spent on migrants in the city of Denver.
The Common Sense Institute (CSI), a non-partisan research organization, revealed that Denver has spent a whopping $356 million on migrants, equating to $7,900 per foreign national in the city. This eye-popping sum accounts for 8% of the city’s 2025 budget of $4.4 billion, including funds from regional education and healthcare organizations.
Since the migrant crisis began in 2022, Denver has seen an unprecedented influx of migrants arriving in the city under the Biden-Harris administration. Johnston has made significant cuts to city services in order to house and feed these migrants, including reducing services at recreation centers and halting the planting of spring flower beds. The city has tapped into a contingency fund to cover the escalating costs.
The bulk of the $356 million spent on migrants in Denver has gone towards education, with additional funds allocated for healthcare, hotels, transportation, and childcare. As a sanctuary city, Denver does not enforce immigration law or cooperate with ICE agents, further complicating the situation.
According to the CSI study, approximately 45,000 migrants have arrived in the Denver metro area since December 2022, with 16,197 migrant students enrolling in Denver metro schools. The total cost to Denver metro schools related to new migrant students is estimated at $228 million annually, representing 1-2% of the state’s K-12 education budget for the 2024-25 academic year.
In addition to education costs, Denver’s healthcare system has been strained by the influx of migrants, with emergency departments delivering an estimated $49 million in uncompensated care. The city was projected to spend $180 million on migrants through 2024, but actual expenditures tracked by the city indicate a lower amount of $79 million, with funds allocated for facilities, personnel, services, and food.
Mayor Johnston has made it clear that he is willing to stand up against policies he deems “illegal or immoral or un-American,” even if it means facing jail time. While Johnston is prepared to protest against what he believes is unjust, Trump’s “border czar” designate, Tom Homan, has warned that he would jail Johnston if he breaks the law in shielding illegal migrants.
The clash between local and federal authorities underscores the complexities of the migrant crisis in Denver and the broader immigration debate in the United States. As the city grapples with the financial and logistical challenges posed by the influx of migrants, the need for comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform remains a pressing issue.
