Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Declares State Emergency Over Surge of Migrants
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in the liberal state over a surge of migrants that she says has left social services overwhelmed, and she called for more funding and help from the federal government.
Healey, a Democrat, announced that a state of emergency exists “due to rapid and unabating increases in the number of families with children and pregnant people — many of them newly arriving migrants and refugees — living within the state but without the means to secure safe shelter in our communities.”
Significant Number of Families and Individuals in State Shelter System
The state said there are nearly 5,600 families or more than 20,000 people in the state shelter system. Healey said there are numerous contributing factors, including “federal policies on immigration and work authorization” as well as a lack of affordable housing and the end of COVID-era programs.
Call for Assistance and Funding from the Federal Government
Healey called for more funding and assistance from the federal government to address the surge of migrants. She blamed the current situation on a combination of factors, including immigration laws, lack of work authorization for migrants, increasing numbers of people coming to Massachusetts, and insufficient affordable housing.
Similar Emergency Declarations in Liberal Jurisdictions
Massachusetts is not the only liberal jurisdiction to request help from the federal government in response to a surge of migrants. New York City, Chicago, and the state of New York have also made emergency declarations this year and called for assistance.
Opposition and Calls for Immigration Reform
While the Biden administration has called for additional funding and immigration reform, these proposals have faced opposition from Republicans and others. Republicans have pushed for closed asylum loopholes and increased border security.