Massachusetts Officials Encourage Public to Open Their Homes to Undocumented Immigrants

Massachusetts Facing Severe Shortage of Shelters for Illegal Immigrants

Massachusetts is facing a severe shortage of shelters for illegal immigrants, prompting state officials to ask residents to consider opening their homes to these individuals. The plea from officials comes after Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency on the migrant crisis.

Lieutenant Governor Urges Residents to Provide Shelter

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll of Massachusetts is urging people to consider hosting a family or providing shelter to address the pressing need for housing. She made this appeal during a press conference on Wednesday. The Democrats in Massachusetts are now advocating for the housing of unvetted migrants and are calling on the public to become sponsor families.

The Lieutenant Governor, Kim Driscoll, is urging residents to consider hosting families in need if they have extra rooms or suites in their homes. This call for assistance comes after the governor declared a state of emergency.

Attorney General Emphasizes Need for Assistance

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey held a press conference at the State House in Boston to address the issue of parents who are undocumented immigrants and facing deportation. Healey emphasized the need for a national response to this issue and called on the federal government to use the tools already available to help these parents work and support their families. She also urged the people of Massachusetts to come together and offer assistance to these families in need.

State of Emergency Declared

Massachusetts has declared a state of emergency to address the growing number of migrants seeking shelter in the state. The state is looking for residents who are willing to house migrant families in their homes, but it is unclear if anyone has responded to this call. The state is also taking steps to create or rent more housing for migrants and has authorized the National Guard to assist if needed.

According to Healey, the state of [unknown] is currently providing housing for almost 20,000 individuals, many of whom are undocumented immigrants. The number of families being sheltered has increased from 3,100 to 5,600 in the past year. Among those in need of shelter are infants, young children, and pregnant women.

Influx of Migrant Families

According to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, around 50 migrant families have recently arrived in the state by plane from other states. This number is significantly higher than what the state's emergency assistance program has ever served before. Healey attributes this increase to a surge in new arrivals in the country who have endured extremely difficult journeys.

Challenges and Requests for Assistance

The state of Massachusetts has a law that guarantees immediate housing for eligible families with children, regardless of shelter availability. The governor of Massachusetts has blamed the slow process of work authorizations, which can take months, for contributing to the current housing crisis. The state's Attorney General, Maura Healey, has written to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, requesting that migrants be allowed to work and asking for financial assistance from the federal government.

Measures Taken to Address the Issue

Massachusetts faced a situation where migrants were seeking shelter in emergency rooms due to a lack of accommodation. As a result, the state took various measures to address the issue, including declaring a state of emergency.

In the past year, the state of Massachusetts has provided shelter to migrants in various locations such as motels, empty college dorms, welcome centers, and a military base on Cape Cod. This was done to accommodate the 49 migrants who arrived in Martha's Vineyard from Florida. It is believed that many migrants from Haiti have chosen to come to Massachusetts, possibly due to the presence of a large Haitian population in Boston.

Challenge Faced by New York City

New York City is facing a significant challenge as it struggles to accommodate the growing number of illegal immigrants seeking shelter. Currently, the city is providing housing for around 55,000 migrants, which has put a strain on its resources. As a result, New York's homeless shelters have reached their maximum capacity, exacerbating the issue further. This situation is not unique to New York, as other states and cities across the country are also grappling with the influx of illegal immigrants in need of shelter.