Essex Police would only receive help from the government if costs topped £4m, the Conservative explained, meaning the force had to swallow the bill it faced.
“It’s a classic public service conundrum,” he said.
“You have the requirement right now, you have to do it. That’s the job.”
The latest protest outside The Bell Hotel took place on Thursday evening.
While most action has been peaceful, Essex Police said eight officers were hurt on 17 July, when fireworks were let off and eggs thrown.
Epping Forest District Council has been trying to block The Bell from housing asylum seekers at the High Court.
It was awarded a temporary injunction in August, but this was later overturned at the Court of Appeal.
The full legal challenge will return to the High Court on 15 October.
Tensions first flared in July when Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.
He was found guilty of those offences at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court and jailed for one year on Tuesday.