Federal immigration authorities in Massachusetts, a state that’s been hemorrhaging millions to house migrants, are now on track to hit a record-breaking number of deportation cases—because nothing says “sanctuary” like a revolving door to ICE.
According to Boston 25 News, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added over 44,000 new deportation cases to the Massachusetts court docket in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024. If they continue at this pace, they are projected to reach nearly 59,000 cases by the end of the fiscal year, surpassing last year’s total of 54,000 cases, the highest in over 25 years.
This tidal wave of cases is happening despite Massachusetts’ self-designation as a “sanctuary state” for illegal migrants. The state has started to take steps to remove asylum seekers from shelters and is offering incentives for them to leave entirely.
Democratic Governor Maura Healey, apparently following the classic five-second rule, announced last month that overflow shelter stays for migrants would now be limited to five days. And because nothing says “get lost” quite like a free ride, the governor’s office generously offered to cover plane tickets and other travel expenses for migrants who feel like their welcome has run out faster than expected.
During a July press conference, Healey cut to the chase, addressing those outside of Massachusetts who might be daydreaming about settling in the Bay State. “I want to be clear, particularly to people outside of Massachusetts who may have gotten word that this is a place to come, that we do not have room here in Massachusetts,” Healey stated, according to Boston 25 News. Translation: If you’re looking for a place to crash, keep looking.
The governor’s office was straightforward in a press release, emphasizing that the cost of the migrant shelter system was completely unsustainable. “Massachusetts is out of shelter space, and we simply cannot afford the current size of this system,” Healey declared. “That’s why we are changing [Emergency Assistance] prioritization and transitioning our safety-net sites to five-day temporary respite centers.” Because nothing says “safety net” like a five-day countdown to being back on the streets.
The new five-day limit is a dramatic downgrade from the previous 30-day stays that the state’s four overflow shelters—located in Chelsea, Norfolk, Lexington, and Cambridge—used to offer, along with the option to reapply. But who needs an extra 25 days when you’ve got a bus ticket and a pat on the back?
Of course, this tough love approach came on the heels of massive taxpayer spending that had the state shelling out about $75 million a month to house migrant families earlier this year, according to local outlet GBH.
In June, Healey even deployed a team of top state officials to border communities to spread the gospel that Massachusetts is no longer the land of milk and honey for illegal immigrants.
The Center for Immigration Studies considers Massachusetts a “sanctuary” jurisdiction due to a 2017 court decision. This decision basically instructs law enforcement to disregard Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they come looking for criminal illegal migrants.
Massachusetts isn’t alone in this chaos. According to the Boston Globe, immigration courts nationwide have seen a jaw-dropping 300% increase in deportation cases from fiscal year 2018 to fiscal year 2023. But hey, this is what happens when you let everyone in.
Austin Kocher, a professor at Syracuse University, tried to make sense of the situation, telling the Boston Globe that the skyrocketing number of new deportation cases during the Biden administration is largely due to the influx of asylum seekers entering the United States. These migrants are coming in both through the US-Mexico border and airports, often legally through parole programs designed to speed up the humanitarian process. Of course, political instability in their home countries is a major factor driving these migrants to our doors.
