Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a state of emergency declaration on Tuesday due to a significant influx of migrants that has overwhelmed social services. She has called for increased funding and assistance from the federal government.
Governor Healey, a Democrat, stated that the state of emergency was declared because of a rapid and ongoing rise in the number of families with children and pregnant individuals – many of whom are newly arrived migrants and refugees – residing in the state without the means to secure safe housing within our communities.
According to official reports, the state’s shelter system is currently accommodating nearly 5,600 families, which amounts to over 20,000 individuals. The Governor attributed this situation to several factors, including federal immigration and work authorization policies, a shortage of affordable housing, and the conclusion of COVID-related programs.
Massachusetts is the latest progressive jurisdiction to seek federal assistance in response to a migrant surge, even though it is geographically distant from the heavily affected southern border. New York City, Chicago, and the state of New York have all declared emergencies this year and appealed for support due to an influx of migrants.
Although the numbers of migrants in these regions constitute a small fraction of the total monthly border arrivals, they have described themselves as overwhelmed and operating at full capacity.
Governor Healey revealed 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 associated costs have reached $45 million per month for various programs.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Governor Healey pointed out that many of these families are drawn to Massachusetts because the state has historically been a haven for those in need. She attributed the challenges to a complex web of immigration laws, difficulties in obtaining federal work authorization, an increase in migration to Massachusetts, and a lack of affordable housing supply in the state.
Governor Healey urged Secretary Mayorkas to advocate for congressional action and utilize executive authority to eliminate obstacles to work permits for migrants. She also called for a review and reform of outdated immigration laws and requested additional financial aid for the state.
Secretary Mayorkas has expressed similar sentiments, with the administration repeatedly urging Congress to provide the requested funding for addressing border-related issues. The administration has also pushed for the passage of an immigration reform bill introduced on President Biden’s first day in office.
However, calls for funding and immigration reform have encountered resistance from Republicans and other opponents. Republicans have expressed concerns about a broad amnesty for millions of undocumented migrants included in the 2021 proposal. They are instead focused on closing asylum loopholes and bolstering border security. House Republicans have already introduced and passed comprehensive legislation on these matters earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, an Independent, voiced frustration last week that federal funding was being directed to New York City for addressing migrants, rather than states along the border. Senator Sinema emphasized that the crisis is most acute in Arizona and southern Texas, while other parts of the country are also experiencing some impact.