Denver has allocated a staggering $356 million in taxpayer money to support migrants since December 2022, according to a recent study by the Common Sense Institute, which utilized city data for its analysis. This expenditure translates to approximately $7,900 per foreign national and constitutes about 8% of the city's projected budget of $4.4 billion for 2025. The influx of around 45,000 migrants into the Denver metro area has significantly impacted local resources, particularly in education and healthcare [b7897663].
The study highlights that 16,197 migrant students have enrolled in local schools, leading to an estimated annual cost of $228 million for their education. Additionally, emergency departments have incurred $49 million in uncompensated care for migrants, further straining the city's healthcare system [b7897663].
Denver's new mayor, Mike Johnston, who took office on September 14, 2023, has publicly opposed former President Trump's mass-deportation plan, even stating that he would be willing to go to jail for his beliefs. This stance has drawn criticism, including threats from Tom Homan, Trump's designated border czar, who warned of potential legal consequences for Johnston's policies that shield illegal migrants [b7897663].
In parallel developments, New York City's public hospital system, NYC Health + Hospitals, has approved contracts worth up to $324.7 million for private security services at humanitarian relief centers for migrants. This decision comes amid the city's ongoing struggle to manage the influx of over 140,000 migrants since last year. The security contracts are part of an estimated $1.3 billion total spent on migrant services from July to October 2023 [11746ce6].
Additionally, the U.S. General Services Administration has been urged to revisit an $896 million contract for transporting unaccompanied migrant children due to concerns about the qualifications of the awarded company. Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, India, the government has increased the estimate for a hospital construction contract to Rs 593.99 crore, reflecting changes in the project's scope [c78a0241][93550633].