According to estimates from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), U.S. taxpayers spent more than $150 billion on immigrants living in the country illegally in 2023. This figure, which accounts for 2% of the federal budget, is comparable to historical U.S. spending on major projects, such as the construction of the Hoover Dam, World War I funding, and the development of the atomic bomb.
If the estimate is accurate, the total spending on illegal immigration nearly matches the $151 billion spent on income security programs for military veterans and their families in 2023, as reported by Newsweek.
Costs Mount in Sanctuary Cities
Sanctuary cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver have been particularly impacted by the surge of new arrivals. These cities have collectively spent millions, and in some cases billions, to provide services to migrants.
New York City has spent $5.22 billion since 2022 to provide shelter, food, and other services to over 223,000 migrants. Chicago, which has received over 51,000 migrants bussed from the southern border by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, has spent $574.5 million. Mayor Brandon Johnson has vowed to protect migrants but announced that the city will end its “New Arrivals Mission” at the end of the year, opting to combine its existing shelter system with those designated for new arrivals in a new initiative starting in January. Chicago is facing a $1 billion budget shortfall.
Criticism of Mayor Johnson has been growing, with some residents arguing that the city’s financial struggles could be alleviated by cutting back on services to illegal immigrants.
Denver has also spent millions, with officials reporting $356 million spent on services for 42,911 new arrivals since 2022.
Trump’s Calls for Mass Deportations and Sanctuary City Defiance
As President-elect Donald Trump and his appointed “border czar,” Tom Homan, push for mass deportations and threaten to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement, mayors in these cities are resisting pressure.
New York Mayor Eric Adams has expressed openness to deporting immigrants with criminal backgrounds, in line with Homan’s focus on this group for deportation. However, Adams has firmly opposed mass deportations of all immigrants, stating that he is willing to meet with Homan to discuss the administration’s plans. In fiscal year 2023, New York spent $1.47 billion on shelter and services for asylum seekers, with only $438 million reimbursed by the state. For fiscal year 2024, the city has committed $3.07 billion to immigrant care, with $1.3 billion expected in state reimbursement.
Despite the significant spending, Mayor Adams has made it clear that he will not allow outside influence on the city’s immigration policies, distancing himself from those reluctant to speak out against illegal immigration.
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- Tate: Democrats Overlook Key Lessons on Illegal Immigration
