Massachusetts Democrat Governor Backtracks on Liberal Policy After Migrant Crime Spikes in Her State
Massachusetts taxpayers have shouldered an increasingly heavy burden as the state’s emergency shelter system expanded to accommodate a surge of migrants. Indeed, with 128 hotels and motels now serving as temporary housing across the Bay State, communities are witnessing unprecedented strain on local resources.
The system’s price tag has already reached staggering heights. A recent state commission report revealed Massachusetts is on track to spend up to one billion dollars on its emergency shelter system in the 2025 fiscal year alone.
However, it’s not just about the money anymore. A series of disturbing incidents have forced even the most ardent sanctuary supporters to face an uncomfortable reality. So much for “sanctuary makes us safer.”
Now, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey is demanding that nearly all family members living in state emergency shelters prove they are legally present in the United States. This is a stunning reversal that has shocked progressive allies.
If this sounds familiar to conservatives who’ve been warning about this for years, you’re not alone. The governor’s dramatic policy shift follows a horrifying pattern of criminal activity that began unfolding in early 2024. In March, a Haitian man who entered through a Biden administration program was arrested for allegedly raping a disabled minor at a shelter motel. Nine months later, in December, authorities discovered an AR-15 rifle and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of illicit drugs in another shelter resident’s room.
Internal documentation obtained by the Boston Herald revealed an even darker truth: Massachusetts’ state-funded migrant-family shelters have been plagued by incidents of child rape, drugs, physical assaults, and other crimes since at least 2022.
“It’s outrageous that this individual took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity,” Healey declared. She said this after ordering an immediate inspection of every shelter facility in the state.
The financial toll on Massachusetts residents continues to mount. Beyond the verified billion-dollar projected cost for fiscal year 2025, communities are grappling with strained local services and overwhelmed public resources.
In June of 2024, Healey took the unprecedented step of deploying state officials to border communities with an urgent message. The message was: don’t come to Massachusetts – the shelters are full.
This represents a stark departure from the state’s previous welcoming stance. Massachusetts has long been identified as a sanctuary haven for illegal migrants. Indeed, Boston and several other localities have limited cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
The system’s price tag has already reached staggering heights. A recent state commission report revealed Massachusetts is on track to spend up to one billion dollars on its emergency shelter system in the 2025 fiscal year alone.
However, it’s not just about the money anymore. A series of disturbing incidents have forced even the most ardent sanctuary supporters to face an uncomfortable reality. So much for “sanctuary makes us safer.”
Now, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey is demanding that nearly all family members living in state emergency shelters prove they are legally present in the United States. This is a stunning reversal that has shocked progressive allies.
If this sounds familiar to conservatives who’ve been warning about this for years, you’re not alone. The governor’s dramatic policy shift follows a horrifying pattern of criminal activity that began unfolding in early 2024. In March, a Haitian man who entered through a Biden administration program was arrested for allegedly raping a disabled minor at a shelter motel. Nine months later, in December, authorities discovered an AR-15 rifle and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of illicit drugs in another shelter resident’s room.
Internal documentation obtained by the Boston Herald revealed an even darker truth: Massachusetts’ state-funded migrant-family shelters have been plagued by incidents of child rape, drugs, physical assaults, and other crimes since at least 2022.
“It’s outrageous that this individual took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity,” Healey declared. She said this after ordering an immediate inspection of every shelter facility in the state.
The financial toll on Massachusetts residents continues to mount. Beyond the verified billion-dollar projected cost for fiscal year 2025, communities are grappling with strained local services and overwhelmed public resources.
In June of 2024, Healey took the unprecedented step of deploying state officials to border communities with an urgent message. The message was: don’t come to Massachusetts – the shelters are full.
This represents a stark departure from the state’s previous welcoming stance. Massachusetts has long been identified as a sanctuary haven for illegal migrants. Indeed, Boston and several other localities have limited cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
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