The city of Denver is cutting $5 million from public services used by its residents to cover the skyrocketing costs of illegal immigration, and the mayor is shifting the blame to Republicans and former President Donald Trump.
Mayor Mike Johnston (D) on Friday said he would shorten recreation center hours, end in-person vehicle registration renewals at the DMV and halt spring flower bed planting to save much-needed cash. Announced. .
The cuts follow the mayor’s decision last month to direct $25 million from the city budget to the immigration crisis. The plan included him withdrawing $10 million from an emergency fund and $15 million from building renovations. These actions followed the city’s decision to leave many positions vacant and review new or expanded contracts and programs.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and former President Donald Trump. Johnston, a Democrat, has criticized Republicans and Donald Trump for his decision to cut $5 million from public services in response to the immigration crisis. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post, left, Mario Tama/Getty Images, right)
800 immigrant families evacuated from shelters as Denver nears breaking point
Johnston said the crisis will cost the city about $180 million in 2024.
Johnston said after Republicans blocked a bipartisan border deal that included a foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel, “Congressional Republicans’ choice this week to intentionally nullify a historic bipartisan border agreement is It will have a devastating impact.” Moving on to Wednesday.
“I’m extremely proud of how our city team members have stepped up over the past year, but I’m not sure the federal government is going to help our city,” he said during a press conference Friday, fighting back tears. That’s clear,” he said.
In addition to these department budget cuts, the city will reduce the number of immigrants it serves and continue to monitor spending, Johnston said. Earlier this week, the city began removing about 800 immigrant families from shelters as it scales back aid to illegal immigrants.
About 40,000 immigrants, mostly from Venezuela, have arrived in Denver in the past year, and more than 3,500 are living in city-funded hotel rooms, according to the Colorado Sun.
Migrants at a temporary shelter in Denver, Colorado, on January 13, 2023. (Hyun Chang/The Denver Post)
Denver mayor warns city is ‘very close’ to ‘breaking point’ for immigration surge
“I want to make it clear to Demberites: Who is not responsible for this crisis that we are in?” [is] These are people who have walked 3,000 miles to get to this city,” he said.
“Despite broad bipartisan support, I think [former President] Trump and Republican leaders saw this as an opportunity, believing that if the bill actually passed, it would successfully solve the problems facing cities and the border, or they would have rather watched the bill fail. , could exacerbate these problems and increase the suffering of the American people. “We will support our citizens and newcomers in preparing for election change this November,” he said, according to The Hill newspaper.
“It was far more than I expected from even the most cynical of political operators.”
“Denver residents have done their part. The city will do ours. The federal government has failed to do its part. Even though common sacrifice is required to address this crisis. , we will continue to work together to reach this moment.”
Johnston previously said Denver accepts more immigrants per capita than any other city in the country.
As part of new cost-cutting measures, recreation centers will be closed one day each week, while DMV satellite offices will be closed for alternate weeks starting March 4. The city will not hire a new class of nine DMV employees.
Additionally, Denver Parks and Recreation will reduce its spring programming by 25%, and regional centers will go from operating seven days a week to six days a week. Regional and neighborhood centers will continue to be open six days a week, but with reduced hours.
Venezuelan immigrants wait for food from a food truck at an immigration processing center in Denver, Colorado, on May 9, 2023. ((Photo by: Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post, Getty Images))
Johnston said full-time city employees will not lose their jobs, but seasonal employees may see their hours reduced or their positions left open.
Sanctuary cities are struggling to make the most of limited resources to support growing numbers of migrants. Texas is deporting thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities like Denver, illustrating the challenges border states face when migrants flood into cities. Johnston told Fox News last week that the city is “very close” to breaking point due to the crisis.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The influx of immigrants has also pushed the city’s health care system to breaking point.
Last year, about 8,000 undocumented immigrants were recorded visiting Denver health facilities about 20,000 times for services such as emergency rooms, primary care, dental care and childbirth. Health systems are also seeking federal relief.
Denver passed a law to become a sanctuary city, but it does not include a right-to-shelter provision, meaning there is no official policy forcing local governments to provide shelter indefinitely.
FOX News’ Alba Cuevas-Fantauzzi contributed to this report.
