Denver, Colorado, a bastion of Democratic control, has once again demonstrated its commitment to sanctuary policies by diverting over $8 million from its police department budget to fund an extravagant $45 million in programs catering to illegal immigrants. As the influx of undocumented individuals into the city continues to surge, Mayor Johnston has made it clear where his priorities lie.
In a staggering escalation of spending, Denver’s allocation for handling the migration crisis has skyrocketed from a mere $2 million in August of 2023 to an eye-watering $15 million by December of the same year. The situation reached its zenith in January of 2024, with the city scrambling to manage a network of over 5,000 migrant shelters.
Mayor Johnston, the chief architect behind this controversial move, defended the budget cuts to law enforcement by heralding it as a “sustainable plan” for accommodating the newcomers. With an air of self-congratulation, he declared, “After over a year of grappling with this crisis, Denver has finally devised a sustainable strategy to treat our newcomers with dignity while sparing our city services from the worst austerity measures.”
This so-called “sustainable” plan entails slashing budgets across various governmental sectors, including a 10% reduction in the mayor’s office budget. However, Johnston is adamant that these cuts will not translate into layoffs or furloughs for city employees. Unfortunately, the brunt of these austerity measures falls squarely on the shoulders of the police force, which faces a significant dent in its budget, losing nearly 2%, or $8.4 million, with $5 million earmarked for restricting new hires.
In defense of these cuts, a spokesperson for Mayor Johnston dismissed claims of police defunding, emphasizing that the department will still welcome 167 new recruits in 2024. Moreover, they asserted that the police force’s budget reduction is comparatively modest when measured against other agencies in the city. The spokesperson went further to assure the public that no officers will be pulled from active duty.
Clarifying the budget adjustments, the spokesperson contended that Denver is not defunding its police force but rather adjusting the timing of recruitments and acquisitions. They clarified, “To characterize Denver’s actions as ‘defunding the police’ is a deliberate misrepresentation of our budgetary reallocations, which merely postpone furniture purchases and reallocate funding for one cadet class.”
Furthermore, the spokesperson underscored Mayor Johnston’s commitment to bolstering public safety by expanding the police force. They affirmed, “Mayor Johnston has allocated millions to onboard 167 new police recruits in 2024 and will continue to prioritize public safety to ensure the security of every Denverite in their city.”
Denver’s fiscal decisions regarding its sanctuary policies come amid mounting resistance from neighboring communities in Colorado. These communities are enacting ordinances to curb the impact of Denver’s migrant policies, such as Douglas County, which recently passed measures to restrict the influx of migrants. Douglas County Commissioner George Teal spoke to Fox News about the ordinance, highlighting the community’s stance against shouldering the burdens of illegal immigration.
Denver’s sanctuary stance, while applauded by some, has ignited fierce debate and drawn attention to the broader implications of immigration policies in the region. As the city grapples with balancing its humanitarian obligations with its duty to maintain law and order, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on Mayor Johnston’s administration and its management of this contentious issue.
