Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) on Thursday ordered 250 members of the state's National Guard to help manage its immigrant crisis by providing basic services at emergency shelter hotels.
Healey instructed the units to help facilitate the coordination of transportation, food, basic needs, and medical care for the 6,000 families and 20,000 people in total who are being housed in emergency shelters. The majority of asylum seekers in Massachusetts are in families that include pregnant women and children.
The activation comes after Healey declared a state of emergency over the crisis, becoming the latest sanctuary state to make such a declaration. Healey called on Washington, D.C., to help Massachusetts because the state cannot financially or logistically respond to the 20,000 people living in state-funded shelters, hotels, dormitories, and other emergency facilities statewide — an 80% increase from a year ago.
The state's 1983"right to shelter" law maintains that any family, regardless of immigration status, is guaranteed immediate state-provided housing. New York City, which has seen the largest influx of migrants outside of the border states, has a similar law and is also facing an overwhelming surge of immigrants. More than 100,000 immigrants have entered New York City since spring of 2022.
Chicago and Washington, D.C., have additionally struggled to respond to the number of immigrants released into their communities from the border under President Joe Biden. All are sanctuary zones that have refused to cooperate with U.S. government immigration authorities.Healey is also launching regional rapid response teams to help oversee shelter sites. They will serve as a direct link to Healey's administration, which includes Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll .
“This National Guard activation is a necessary step to ensure that families in emergency shelter have access to the services they need to stay safe and healthy," Driscoll said. “This is an emergency measure that will help us meet immediate needs while we continue to advocate for assistance from the federal government in the form of streamlined work authorizations and funding.”
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Governor activates Massachusetts National Guard to help with migrant crisisDemocratic Gov. Maura Healey is activating members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist at shelters and hotels as the state struggles with a flood of migrants.
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Governor activates Massachusetts National Guard to help with migrant crisisDemocratic Gov. Maura Healey is activating members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist at shelters and hotels as the state struggles with a flood of migrants
Read more »
Governor activates Massachusetts National Guard to help with migrant crisisDemocratic Gov. Maura Healey is activating members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist at shelters and hotels as the state struggles with a flood of migrants
Read more »
Governor activates Massachusetts National Guard to help with migrant crisisDemocratic Gov. Maura Healey is activating members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist at shelters and hotels as the state struggles with a flood of migrants.
Read more »
Governor activates Massachusetts National Guard to help with migrant crisisDemocratic Gov. Maura Healey is activating members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist at shelters and hotels as the state struggles with a flood of migrants.
Read more »
Governor activates Massachusetts National Guard to help with migrant crisisDemocratic Gov. Maura Healey is activating members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist at shelters and hotels as the state struggles with a flood of migrants
Read more »