The Massachusetts Republican Party has accused Governor Maura Healey of secretly spending over $1 billion on accommodating undocumented immigrants in emergency shelters, a claim that comes after Healey issued a warning that the state no longer possesses the resources nor space to house migrants in its emergency shelter system.
Healey recently announced during a press conference that the state would not be able to guarantee placement for individuals sent there after the end of this month due to the anticipated maximum capacity of its shelter system. She clarified that while Massachusetts will continue to assist and serve families seeking help, the state may struggle with accommodating the increasing number of migrants arriving in recent times.
The number of families housed in the state’s emergency shelters has doubled over the past year, reaching 7,000. The total number of people being accommodated is now above 21,000, and over 50% of that population is comprised of undocumented immigrants.
Massachusetts, also known as “The Bay State,” has become increasingly attractive to a large number of migrants due to it being the only state required by law to provide shelter to homeless families following the implementation of the 1983 “right-to-shelter” law. Last month, Healey was forced to declare a state of emergency and deploy the state’s national guard to assist in dealing with the influx of migrants into Massachusetts.
In response to the escalating situation, Republicans have formally requested information from the Massachusetts state government regarding $1 billion in expenditures on the migrant crisis. They are demanding a comprehensive cost breakdown detailing the financial impact on state residents. State Republican Party Chairperson Amy Carnevale has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking detailed information on the allocation of funds for migrants, including names of government and private entities involved in providing housing, specific locations of migrant housing, correspondences related to public safety issues, and relevant police or incident reports.
The request follows a report by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) highlighting the strain on state resources due to the increasing number of migrants arriving in Massachusetts. The CIS projects state spending on migrants will reach $1.8 billion over the next two years and warns that the state may have already spent over $1 billion on its Emergency Assistance shelter program for migrants.
In addition to the immediate costs of housing migrants, the CIS reports that spending on education, social services, health care, and public safety has increased due to the sudden influx of an estimated 355,000 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts. The state is currently dealing with a crisis as undocumented immigrants are filling hotels and motels across the state, with whistleblower claims detailing how migrants are being lavished with benefits in one of the hotels now “closed to the public,” at the behest of the state and the nonprofits with which it partners.