Denver will discontinue its migrant support program next year, following significant changes in U.S. border policy that have led to a sharp decrease in migrant arrivals. The city’s ambitious initiative, launched just five months ago, aimed to provide temporary housing, job training, and other resources to help newly arrived migrants transition into stable lives. However, city officials announced this week that the program will not be extended into 2025.
The decision comes in the wake of evolving border policies under the Biden administration, which have significantly reduced the number of migrants entering the U.S. The Denver Asylum Seekers Program was initially designed to address the challenges posed by a surge in migrants arriving in the city, but officials now believe that the program is no longer necessary as the influx has subsided.
A Shift in Strategy Amid Changing Circumstances
The Denver Asylum Seekers Program represented a notable shift in the city’s approach to migrant support. Previously, Denver had relied on large temporary shelters to house migrants. With the introduction of the new program, the city focused on providing more individualized resources, including six months of housing, job training, language classes, and legal assistance for asylum seekers. The program was also intended to address a labor shortage in key industries by preparing migrants for jobs.
Currently, around 860 people are enrolled in the program, which has offered critical support to migrants as they work to establish new lives in the U.S. Despite its success, the city plans to end the program and close its remaining migrant shelter by the end of this month, according to Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for Denver’s newcomer response team.
The decision is part of a broader trend among major cities, including Chicago and New York, which have also been grappling with the challenges posed by increasing migrant populations. These cities have had to strike a delicate balance between providing social services and managing their budgets. For instance, both Chicago and New York have recently implemented stricter time limits for how long migrants can stay in shelters.
Declining Migrant Numbers Drive Decision
Denver’s decision to phase out its migrant support services is driven by the significant drop in arrivals over the past several months. Since Texas Governor Greg Abbott began busing thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities in 2022, Denver has received about 42,000 migrants. However, the city has not received a busload of migrants since June 10, and only about 30 new arrivals were reported last week.
Ewing noted that the city’s traditional shelter system, which had been strained during the height of the migrant influx, is now able to accommodate those still arriving. “It’s simply not needed in this current form in 2025. That’s a good thing,” he said, referring to the asylum program.
Although the program will officially end next year, the city remains committed to assisting the 860 participants currently enrolled. Officials are also exploring which elements of the program may be retained beyond 2024.
The six-month program was created in response to an urgent need, Ewing explained, when the city was working to help thousands of migrants move from temporary shelters to more permanent housing and employment. The program not only addressed the immediate crisis but also provided long-term benefits for both the migrants and local employers, who will soon have access to a new pool of workers once participants receive work authorization.
“We’re super proud of it,” Ewing said. “But at the same time, we need to see what makes actual sense for 2025.”
Biden Administration’s Policies Bring Relief to Denver
The dramatic reduction in migrant arrivals is largely due to new immigration policies enacted by President Joe Biden in June. The executive action has led to a 50% drop in encounters between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and migrants at the southern border. In August, CBP reported around 58,000 encounters between ports of entry, a 68% decrease compared to the same month in 2023.
This decline in crossings has put the Border Patrol on track for the lowest number of annual apprehensions along the southwest border since fiscal year 2020, and lower than the pre-pandemic levels of fiscal year 2019.
As a result of these changes, Denver has reduced its budget for migrant services. The city initially allocated $90 million for new arrivals in 2024, but with the program winding down, about $22 million will be redirected to the general fund for 2025. The 2025 budget for migrant services will be cut to $12.5 million, much of which will come from unspent funds from 2024.
Despite the reduction in funding and the end of the asylum program, Ewing emphasized that Denver is “enormously proud” of its efforts to support migrants. The city’s program, he said, has played a key role in stabilizing the lives of hundreds of individuals while also providing a boost to local employers in need of workers.
Ewing added that while the current situation appears stable, Denver has an emergency plan in place should there be another surge in migrant arrivals. “The goal is to never get there,” he said.
As the landscape of immigration continues to evolve, Denver’s experience serves as a reflection of how cities across the U.S. are adapting to changing realities at the border.