The United States is facing an unprecedented migrant crisis that requires federal intervention. Local governments are being asked to subsidize this crisis, but they are neither designed nor built to handle such a massive influx of migrants. This situation has escalated into both a humanitarian and fiscal crisis for cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver.
The scale and diversity of the nationalities arriving at the border are unprecedented. This crisis is impacting not only border states but also cities and states across the country. The Biden administration’s current approach to managing the migrant flow into welfare state cities like New York and Denver is becoming politically unsustainable. Cities must acknowledge this crisis and shift into crisis mode to address it effectively.
In 2018, New York City spent approximately $258 million on immigration services, adjusted for inflation. By fiscal year 2023, this expenditure had soared to $1.47 billion. Chicago has spent over $194 million on its new arrivals mission since October 2022. Denver’s spending on migrant support services in 2023 is estimated between $36.3 million and $39.1 million. The primary expenses for new arrivals are housing, education, and healthcare, all of which are high-cost items. The notion of providing generous welfare benefits to migrants from around the world is proving mathematically impossible as states struggle with the increasing financial burden.
