Massachusetts is asking private homeowners to take in illegal aliens because it doesn't have enough space to accommodate the thousands of border crossers still flooding into the Bay State.
Massachusetts is the only state with a statewide “right to housing” provision for homeless families. And with that rule in mind, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) has repeatedly urged legal residents to open their homes to illegal immigrants, where authorities are struggling to find beds.
In August, Healy declared a “state of emergency” over the influx of illegal immigrants, writing in his book: declaration“Currently, approximately 5,600 families, or more than 20,000 people, including children and pregnant women, are housed in state shelters.”
One solution proposed by Healy and her colleagues is to house immigrants in private homes.
Demand for shelters rises as Massachusetts struggles to find housing for newly arrived immigrants after reaching state cap of 7,500 households for emergency homeless shelters in November 2023 is increasing. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Days after Healey's declaration, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll (Democratic) Said “Most importantly, if you have an additional room or suite in your home, please consider hosting a family. Housing and shelter are our most pressing needs, and we encourage sponsoring families to: Please become to.”
The state currently houses more than 1,400 families in 40 hotels in 28 cities in the state at taxpayer expense, with undocumented residents staying there for free.according to fairthe average length of stay for these families is 14 months, with free room and board.
Now, the state appears to be reaching out to non-governmental groups to increase pressure on homeowners to accept immigrants.
A group called the Immigrant Support Alliance holds seminars to inform residents about having illegal immigrants in their homes as “host homes.” The next event will be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
🚨Melrose, Massachusetts is hosting an event called “Exploring the Host Home Experience” to encourage residents to house illegal aliens in their homes.
A few months ago, the governor asked citizens to welcome illegal immigrants into their homes.
Massachusetts is the only state in the United States… pic.twitter.com/LTbErNnvDO
— TikTok Library (@libsoftiktok) January 12, 2024
These measures have many wondering whether the state intends to make a more serious attempt to place illegal aliens in people's homes. One reason for the skepticism is that Massachusetts is the only state with a “right to housing” law for families, but it does not target single homeless people.
By law, states are required to pay for shelter and housing for homeless families. But the state's housing system is already overwhelmed.
New York City has a right to shelter law, California has a law requiring the state to house runaway teens with or without parental consent, and Massachusetts has a right to shelter law. It is the only state with a statewide rule that automatically requires everyone to be housed. homeless family.
The rules have become increasingly costly for left-wing states, and some lawmakers are pushing for changes.
Last year, state Rep. Peter Durant (R-Worcester) said the state would provide free housing to 15 families in 2022. In 2023, that number suddenly increased to nearly 2,000 households. “Either homelessness is skyrocketing or the majority of homeless people are illegal immigrants,” Durant said. Said. The state spent $2.6 million housing undocumented families in 2023, but that cost is expected to rise to $10.7 million in 2024, according to the Department of Housing and Settlement.
boston herald Columnist Howie Carr warns about states forcing illegal immigrants into people's homes, especially the safety of homeowners who are asked to take in unidentified and unvetted illegal immigrants. I am concerned about this.
“Joe Biden et al. They've turned what used to be a decent neighborhood into a Biden building when they were awake. Illegal aliens are up all night driving unregistered scooters all over the place. Needles. are scattered in the gutters. The illegal aliens are harassing young American girls and “verbally abusing” adults, Kerr said. I got it. In an editorial in August.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) holds a press conference about the state's emergency shelter system. (Jonathan Wiggs/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
In response, Kerr asked, “Would residents of, say, Dover or Weston be able to choose between MS-13 gangbangers and members of Los Trinitarios?” He bashed those who support liberal areas of the state while illegal immigrants are placed in middle-class and low-income areas.
But Carr makes a good point. Will the state be responsible for ensuring the safety of homeowners who choose to take in some of Healey's illegal immigrants? How do homeowners know if they are opening their doors to people with criminal records? These illegal offenders are not introducing diseases that were once thought to have been nearly eradicated in the United States. Can they be sure?
These homeowners are worried that their children will be safe after parents bring into their homes unemployed, homeless illegal aliens who have already proven easy to break our laws. How do we know that?
Finally, does Governor Healey have the authority to require people to accept illegal immigrants into their homes? After all, the “right to housing” is also a law. How far can Healey go to protect that law? So far, state officials have chosen not to answer these questions.
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