Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has declared a state of emergency in response to a surge of migrants overwhelming social services in the liberal state.
Governor Healey, a Democrat, called for increased funding and assistance from the federal government to address the situation.
The state of emergency was declared due to the significant increase in the number of families with children and pregnant individuals, many of whom are newly arriving migrants and refugees, who are living in the state without access to safe shelter.
Currently, there are nearly 5,600 families, totaling over 20,000 people, in the state shelter system. Governor Healey cited various factors contributing to the crisis, including federal immigration and work authorization policies, a lack of affordable housing, and the termination of COVID-era programs.
Massachusetts joins other liberal jurisdictions, such as New York City, Chicago, and the state of New York, in seeking federal assistance to address the migrant surge, despite being geographically distant from the southern border. While the number of migrants in these areas is relatively small compared to the hundreds of thousands arriving at the border each month, they have declared themselves overwhelmed and at capacity.
Governor Healey highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that in July alone, 100 families per day were seeking emergency shelter, while the number of families leaving shelters has decreased by two-thirds since 2019. The costs associated with addressing the crisis have reached $45 million per month.
In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Governor Healey emphasized that many of these families are drawn to Massachusetts because the state has historically been a beacon of hope for those in need.
She attributed the crisis to a combination of factors, including complex immigration laws, difficulties in obtaining work authorization from the federal government, an increase in the number of people coming to Massachusetts, and a shortage of affordable housing.
Governor Healey called on Secretary Mayorkas to urge Congress to remove barriers to work permits for migrants, address outdated and punitive immigration laws, and provide additional financial assistance to the state. Secretary Mayorkas has echoed these calls, with the Biden administration consistently urging Congress to allocate additional funding for border-related issues. The administration has also advocated for the passage of an immigration reform bill introduced on President Biden's first day in office.
However, these calls for funding and immigration reform have faced opposition from Republicans and other critics. Republicans have expressed concerns about the inclusion of a mass amnesty for millions of illegal migrants in the proposed 2021 legislation. Instead, they advocate for closing asylum loopholes and strengthening border security. Earlier this year, House Republicans introduced and passed comprehensive legislation addressing these issues.
Meanwhile, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an Independent, expressed frustration that federal funding was being directed to New York City to address the migrant crisis, rather than to states along the border. Senator Sinema emphasized that Arizona and southern Texas are the communities most affected by the crisis, and she called for greater support for these areas.
As Massachusetts grapples with the overwhelming influx of migrants, Governor Healey's declaration of a state of emergency underscores the urgent need for federal assistance. The situation highlights the complexities of immigration policy and the challenges faced by states in providing adequate support and resources.
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