Declining Illegal Immigration Is Actually Helping Democrat-Run Cities Avoid Financial Crisis
Source: Chris Bray. "Illegal Immigration Is Way Down, So The Media Are Freaking Out." March 26, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that illegal immigration has dropped dramatically, and this is actually good news for Democrat-run cities that were spending billions on migrant services. He claims these cities were facing budget crises because of the costs, so fewer immigrants means financial relief.
Conclusion
The significant decline in illegal immigration is providing financial relief to Democrat-run states and cities that were facing budget crises due to the costs of supporting migrants
Premises
- Net international migration to the U.S. has declined dramatically, with undocumented immigration dropping from 1.0 million in Q4 2023 to 180,000 in Q2 2025
- The biggest declines in net immigration are occurring in Deep Blue cities like Los Angeles (67% down), Denver (72% down), Chicago (62% down), and New York City (65% down)
- These same Democrat-run cities have been facing severe budget deficits directly attributed to migrant costs, such as NYC's $12 billion deficit and Denver's $180 million in migrant-related expenses
- Illegal immigrants require substantial government resources and assistance, creating dependency on social services programs
- The reduction in new arrivals means fewer people requiring initial government assistance and services
Assumptions
- The Census Bureau's 'net international migration' data largely reflects illegal immigration patterns
- Budget deficits in these cities are primarily caused by migrant-related expenses rather than other factors
- Reduced immigration will lead to proportional reductions in government spending on social services
- The financial burden of supporting migrants outweighs any economic benefits they might provide