Denver Loses $24 Million in Federal Grants Amid Immigrant Policy Dispute
DENVER — In a significant blow to the City of Denver, the Trump administration has officially rescinded $24 million in federal grants intended for the city’s sheltering of newly arrived immigrants. The decision follows through on earlier threats by the administration to withhold funding, prompting immediate concerns about the city’s financial stability.
During a Denver City Council meeting on Monday, Budget Director Justin Sykes revealed that only $7 million to $8 million of the total $32 million in Shelter and Services Program grants had been received. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) terminated these grants, emphasizing that they would not support illegal immigration activities in alignment with the administration’s directive.
Sykes expressed worries over the city’s reliance on federal funding, noting that Denver typically manages between $100 million to $200 million worth of grants annually, the majority of which are federal. He emphasized the potential impact of losing such funding, stating, "The city does not have the capacity, if all of that federal funding were to go away, to backfill it."
The announcement coincided with a new executive order from President Trump, which aims to identify and penalize jurisdictions that obstruct federal immigration laws, labeling them as "sanctuary jurisdictions." Denver, while never officially designating itself as a sanctuary city, has been classified as such since the first Trump administration.
In response to the order, Colorado Governor Jared Polis reiterated that Colorado is not a sanctuary state and advocated for local law enforcement to work in accordance with federal laws to combat crime.
As Denver braces for the financial implications of this federal decision, city officials continue to monitor the evolving situation, placing emphasis on the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the congressional level.
