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Here is a detailed compilation of news articles, government reports, and analyses discussing abnormally high per-person (or per-household) spending on migrants/asylum seekers/undocumented immigrants, often framed as stripping or depleting budgets, forcing cuts to other services, or creating massive shortfalls.

These frequently cite government data (city halls, comptrollers, state offices, federal reports) and highlight figures like hundreds of dollars per day per person/household—far exceeding typical costs for homeless services or other programs. This leads to billions in totals, budget gaps, program cuts (e.g., police, education, sanitation), or reliance on emergency funding.

"Per legal" in your query aligns with context from prior discussions on high per-migrant costs (likely referring to per undocumented/asylum seeker or "illegal" migrant spending). Results focus on U.S. examples, primarily NYC/NY State, with Chicago, Denver, and national/federal angles. I prioritized sources quoting official budgets/reports.

I include direct quotes from publications, exact figures, jurisdictions, time periods, and links where available. Some X (Twitter) posts referencing or quoting these articles are noted for additional context. This draws from extensive web searches and page browses; not every minor mention is listed, but major ones with financial details are covered.

New York City (NYC) — City migrant/asylum seeker shelter, housing, food, and services budget (right-to-shelter obligations; often compared to homeless costs)​

High daily rates (~$350–$388 per household or per migrant) are repeatedly called out as abnormally elevated, driving billions in spending, widening budget gaps, and prompting across-the-board cuts or emergency measures. Costs often exceed those for traditional homeless services.

  • Fiscal Policy Institute (Sep. 12, 2023 article: "Breaking Down the Fiscal Impact of City Aid to Migrants"): Details $380 per household per day (city currently spending; projects no efficiencies to lower it; one reference to $383 per-night cost remaining). Projects $2.33B added city costs in FY24 and $4.1B in FY25 (total asylum seeker costs over 2024–2025: $10.9B; city's portion $8.9B after prior budgeting, needing $6.5B new funding). This raises FY24 gap from $5.1B to $9.2B. Quotes: "The city is currently spending $380 per household per day. The city projects no added efficiencies to reduce the cost per household over the next two years." Notes 15% PEG (Program to Eliminate the Gap) cuts of ~$9.6B in FY24 and $9.7B in FY25, concentrated in education, social services, and homeless services. URL: https://fiscalpolicy.org/breaking-down-the-fiscal-impact-of-city-aid-to-migrants.

  • NYC Comptroller’s Office (Fiscal Impacts page on asylum seeker services; updated with data through ~2025): Reports actuals of $1.41B (FY2023), $3.70B (FY2024), $3.02B (FY2025). Per diem: $373 (FY2024), $354 estimated (FY2025; OMB reported $371 July 2024–June 2025), trending to $336 (FY2026). Cumulative per diem (July 2022–Aug. 2025): $371. Projections decline but still total ~$11.75B FY2023–2029 (city share dominant). Notes large open payables early on (e.g., FY2023 commitments $1.47B with hundreds of millions unliquidated). Quotes on strain: Average per diem "has remained relatively constant, decreasing by less than $15 from FY 2024 to FY 2025." Savings from lower census but highlights ongoing city burden with reduced state/federal aid later. Sources: Mayor’s OMB Financial Plans and NYC Financial Management System. URL: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/services/for-the-public/accounting-for-asylum-seeker-services/fiscal-impacts/.

  • New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli (Asylum Seeker Spending Report; tool launched ~2023, data through March 2026): NYC spent $1.47B (FY2023), $3.75B (FY2024), $3.02B (FY2025), $1.10B (FY2026 partial; updated projection $1.5B). State planned $4.3B total emergency spending SFY2022-23 to 2026-27 ($2.65B spent through March 2026, mostly housing via Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance). Breakdowns by agency (e.g., DHS dominant for shelter; H+H for HERRCs early on). Projections: NYC $1.2B (FY2027), $500M annually thereafter. Quotes key findings on scale: "The largest cumulative spending is for payments to the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) for emergency shelter costs..." Notes shift to DHS as HERRCs closed; no new state appropriations in FY2027. URL: https://www.osc.ny.gov/reports/asylum-seeker-spending-report.

  • ABC7 New York (April 7, 2025 article: "Watchdog questions high cost of sanctuary in New York City"): >$7B spent on housing/caring for undocumented immigrants over past few years. Average $370 per day to house an undocumented immigrant (vs. $207 per day for someone experiencing homelessness). Yearly asylum seeker budget exceeds those for city health, sanitation, and fire departments. Current care for >44,500 (down from 65,000). Watchdog (Citizens Budget Commission’s Ana Champeny): "The crisis is over, but the continued cost is still there... It does call into question why the cost per day is so high and has been stubbornly high; it's been about that $370 level since that crisis began." Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs (Manuel Castro): "We spent over $7 billion in this response." URL: https://abc7ny.com/post/watchdog-questions-high-cost-sanctuary-new-york-city/16122940/.

  • U.S. House Budget Committee report ("The Cost of Illegal Immigration to Taxpayers," Jan. 11, 2024): NYC expects to spend $12B over next three years on housing, food, healthcare, and services. To cover, plans 5% budget cuts across services including sanitation, public education, and police. Mayor Adams town hall quote: influx “will destroy New York City” due to costs. URL: https://budget.house.gov/download/the-cost-of-illegal-immigration-to-taxpayers (also referenced in NY Post and others).

  • Independent Budget Office (IBO) of NYC (May 2023 Snapshot report): Projects lower asylum seeker costs than executive budget; discusses per-household cost of shelter and food. (Earlier projections noted in related coverage.)

X posts often reference these or similar numbers (e.g., posts quoting ~$380–$388/day or linking articles with high per-day costs, sometimes with images of city charts).

Chicago — City migrant response/shelter and services budget​

High cumulative and annual costs (~hundreds of millions) tied to arrivals, contributing to budget gaps and program shifts; some per-person annual equivalents highlighted as outsized.

Denver (Colorado) — City migrant response (shelter, food, services, plus education/healthcare)​

Per-migrant totals and percentages of city budget highlighted as significant; cuts to public safety noted.

  • Common Sense Institute (Updated Costs: Denver Migrants report, ~Nov. 2024): $356M total spent to date (city + regional education/healthcare) on ~45,000 arrivals since Dec. 2022 → roughly $7,900 per migrant. City: $79M through Nov. 2024 (34.5% facilities/hotels, 29.4% personnel, etc.). Schools: $228M annually for 16,197 students. Healthcare: ~$49M uncompensated care. Equates to 8% of Denver’s $4.4B 2025 budget. Projections: City services reduced to $12.5M in 2025 (after $79M through 2024). Earlier estimates higher. URL: https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research/housing-and-our-community/updated-costs-denver-migrants.

  • NY Post (same Oct. 23, 2024 article): Denver ~$90M bill; $70M spent so far + $90M projected (April 2024). $1,700 per migrant (housing, food, legal, training under Asylum Seekers Program with up to 6 months rent-free). $45M total cuts including $8.4M from Police and $2.5M from Fire. >42,000 arrivals since Dec. 2022.

  • Colorado State University Source (Sep. 17, 2024 article): Program costs ~$1,700 per migrant; city still spending $90M in 2024 including Denver Asylum Seekers Program. Earlier extra expenditures pulled from other accounts (e.g., Human Services), shortchanging programs. URL referenced in searches.

National/Federal and Broader State/Local Impacts​

Articles frame overall crisis costs as $150B+ annually in some estimates, with local depletions and cuts.

  • NY Post (Oct. 23, 2024 article, citing FAIR/House-related data): Migrant crisis cost $150B in 2023 ($67B federal; rest states/locals). Federal ~$3,187 per migrant per year (up 45% since 2017). Breakdowns: education, medical ($25B), welfare, law enforcement. Local examples tie back to above cities forcing cuts (e.g., police/fire in Denver; NYC 5% agency cuts including libraries/early childhood). Quotes: "The eye-watering financial cost of the migrant crisis hit $150 billion last year."

  • Congressional Budget Office (CBO, June 2025 report: "Effects of the Surge in Immigration on State and Local Budgets"): Four states (NY, MA, IL, CO) spent $3.3B total in 2023 on shelter/related services (food, legal) for surge population. NYC alone $2.6B; MA $0.5B (up from prior); Chicago/IL $0.4B; CO <$50M. Attributes to right-to-shelter laws and surge. Discusses marginal cost per person. URL: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61464.

  • House Budget Committee/FAIR-related (multiple 2023–2024 references, e.g., May 2024 press release and reports): Net fiscal burden ~$150.7B annually (federal/state/local); gross ~$182–183B. Per illegal alien/citizen child ~$8,776/year in one study. Federal alone $66.4B. Ties to local examples like NYC/Chicago/Denver spending. X posts frequently share these or linked Daily Mail/House reports on $451B or $150B+ crisis costs.

Additional Context from X Posts Referencing Articles​

X discussions often amplify these with links or screenshots:

  • Posts quoting ~$380–$388/day per household/migrant in NYC (linking Fiscal Policy, NY Daily News-style reports, or city data).
  • References to budget gaps/cuts (e.g., Denver police/fire reductions or NYC agency PEG cuts).
  • Broader shares of House/FAIR reports on per-person burdens or $150B+ totals.
  • Examples include posts with charts from comptroller reports or articles highlighting "abnormally large" daily rates vs. other services.

These articles consistently portray the per-person costs as exceptionally high relative to benchmarks (e.g., homeless services), resulting in depleted reserves, emergency reallocations, or cuts elsewhere. Figures evolve with arrival numbers and policy changes but remain in the hundreds per day or thousands–tens of thousands annually per person in localized programs. For your research, cross-reference primary PDFs (e.g., comptroller reports, CBO) as news pieces summarize official data. Many note federal aid shortfalls exacerbating local burdens.

If you need deeper dives on specific articles, more X examples, or focus on certain years/jurisdictions, provide details!

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