FYI ... City and County of Devner joins suit against Trump cuts to FEMA funds - Denver Gazette
Thomas Clayton
Denver joins lawsuit against Trump administration over FEMA funds termination
- Deborah Grigsby debora...@denvergazette.com
- May 16, 2025 Updated 1 hr ago
FILE PHOTO: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston talks about immigration issues and how his city will handle them during an interview Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, outside the City and County Building in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
David Zalubowski/Associated PressThe City and County of Denver has joined the City of Chicago and Pima County, Arizona in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its termination of federal funding awarded to local jurisdictions to help defray immigration assistance costs.
Denver is seeking $24 million that the city was awarded in reimbursements.
Denver, Chicago, and Pima County assert that the federal government’s actions are unconstitutional, as these actions attempt to override Congress’ constitutional authority to appropriate funds, according to a news release.
Additionally, the jurisdictions assert that the federal government violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide a reasoned basis for their actions.
“While Donald Trump has time and again tried to divide the country instead of finding bipartisan solutions on immigration, the people of Denver stood up and stood together to help people in need,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said in the release. “The Shelter and Services Program was intended for the sole purpose of reimbursing cities who did exactly that while following all federal, state, and local laws. Now, the Trump administration is illegally trying to punish cities who did the work the federal government couldn’t. I am incredibly proud of how our city responded to this crisis and will continue to fight for the funding we were awarded but have not received.”
Since the first Trump administration, Congress has appropriated funds to reimburse communities and states for costs incurred supporting immigrants who were processed and released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into the United States per federal immigration policy.
In 2022, Congress continued this program with bipartisan support through the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), administered through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and intended for the sole purpose of reimbursing cities for the services necessitated by the federal government’s immigration policies.
In the same year Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began bussing migrants to cities across the country, including many of the more than 43,000 people who arrived in Denver. City officials estimate that about half have stayed, with the rest accepting bus or plane tickets elsewhere.
Denver responded to this crisis, costing millions to house, feed and in some cases provide transportation to other cities.
FEMA awarded grants to reimburse those costs incurred for providing services, as required by the congressional appropriation.
Denver, Chicago, and Pima County assert that the federal government’s actions are unconstitutional, as these actions attempt to override Congress’ constitutional authority to appropriate funds. Additionally, the jurisdictions assert that the federal government violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide a reasoned basis for their actions.
 | Tom Clayton Communication and Media Specialist, Public Affairs |
| Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St, Fort Collins, 80522 | 2nd Floor W: (970) 498-7005 tcla...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org |