Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has declared a state of emergency due to the influx of illegal immigrants who’ve entered America via the southern border.
The blue-state sanctuary-state governor joins mayors from New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C., in declaring an “emergency” and calling on the Biden administration to do something to stem immigration.
MSN reported that Healey said during a Tuesday press conference: “This is a national issue that demands a national response. Today, I am declaring a state of emergency in Massachusetts.”
As reported by WCVB, Gov. Healey reached out to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to request assistance.
Healey called on the Biden administration to intervene because the state could not financially or logistically respond to the 20,000 immigrants living in state-funded shelters, hotels, dormitories and other emergency facilities statewide — an 80% increase from a year ago.
Southern states have labeled the Biden administration as negligent for allowing upward of 80,000 illegal immigrants to enter the country across the southern border each month.
Of the 20,000 that have migrated to Massachusetts, Healey said: “It’s more families than our state has ever served, exponentially more than our state has ever served in our emergency assistance program.”
Healey added: “We’re unable to move people from housing and shelter into permanent housing because of this, so instead, we’ve been expanding and continuing to look for housing and shelter opportunities, expanding shelter at a rapid pace, and it’s unsustainable.”
The Washington Examiner reported the governor’s declaration positions the state to petition for federal funding to address the immigration crisis. It also shows a deepening divide within the Democratic Party regarding the southern border issue.
Healey’s declaration also emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, urging Congress to modernize immigration laws and enhance funding for shelter services in states.
“Every family in Massachusetts deserves safe, stable housing, and I am committed to doing everything in my power to protect families from homelessness and ensure that our most vulnerable residents have a place to call home,” Healey said.
While Massachusetts has a legal obligation to provide emergency housing for eligible families, the sudden increase in migrants has put this commitment to the test. The shelter system currently houses over 20,000 individuals, including almost 5,600 families.
According to the Boston Herald, the surge in demand has resulted in the use of various temporary housing solutions, with about one-third of those in shelters in Massachusetts being newly arrived migrants.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is considering creating a massive homeless encampment in the famed Central Park to deal with the city’s immigration and homeless crisis.
Yet, the challenge extends beyond just migrant arrivals. With rising housing costs displacing families and posing barriers to those seeking affordable housing, the situation becomes multifaceted. Republicans charge this is the unsurprising outcome of “Bidenomics.”
To alleviate the immediate concerns, local entities such as the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and The Boston Foundation have set up the Massachusetts Migrant Families Relief Fund, aiming to meet the essential needs of these new arrivals.
Healey’s administration has also launched an information web page and encourages those willing to provide assistance to reach out through [email protected] or by dialing 211.
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