The Boston area is facing a migrant crisis as a school maintains its Dukakis-era residency policy.

The Boston-area school district refused to modify its residency policy for incoming students following requests from migrant advocacy groups, with an administrator asserting that the accusations leveled by the critics "are simply unfounded."

Two advocacy groups have challenged public schools in Saugus, 10 miles north of Boston, to alter their policy due to the influx of migrants into Massachusetts, which has caused turmoil in the state and its resources.

The letter sent by the Lawyers for Civil Rights and Massachusetts Advocates for Children to Saugus school administrators accused the town of violating the state and federal constitution with its "overly-stringent residency or proof-of-identity requirements."

The policy, which was implemented prior to the 2023-2024 school year, required that students be "legal residents whose actual residence is in Saugus" and that guardians present passports or other government photo IDs to identify themselves.

The policy was put into effect shortly after Democrat Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency due to the migrant surge.

Massachusetts is distinctive in its classification as a "right-to-shelter" state, ensuring that homeless families are provided with shelter.

Since Healey declared a state of emergency, Saugus schools have enrolled 23 students from the shelter system.

During a recent board meeting, school administrators announced that they will not alter their policy, with Vincent Serino, the body's chair, stating that news and "stories about migrants" are false, as reported by the Boston Herald.

No responses were received from Serino and other administrators when Planet Chronicle Digital sought their comment.

The state-imposed shelter limits and calls for the repeal of the Gov. Michael Dukakis-era law have been prompted by claims that the law is a significant contributor to the severity of the crisis.

The school policy also states that students who are covered under federal homeless assistance legislation initiated by former Rep. Stewart McKinney, R-Conn., in 1987 are exempt from certain stipulations.

The policy states that no child living in Saugus will be denied school access due to their or their parents/guardians' immigration status.

The demand letter from advocacy groups argued that the census requirement in the policy exceeds scholastic authority and disproportionately harms immigrant families.

The statement "anti-immigrant sentiments" have led to noncitizens being less likely to participate in the census due to "stigma" or "fear of immigration consequences" was also made.

Planet Chronicle Digital contacted the representatives of both groups, as well as town officials and state Sen. Brendan Crighton, D-Essex, for comment, but did not receive any responses.

In Norfolk, town officials reportedly briefly agreed that migrant children residing in a former state prison-turned-shelter would not be enrolled in local schools.

The decision was later reversed, according to the Boston Globe.

Healey seemed to pinpoint the federal government as the culprit for the crisis, asserting that Congress has consistently neglected to act following the implementation of a 90-day shelter restriction.

Politico reported that Healey stated that the new length-of-stay policy will fortify the efforts to link families with the necessary resources and services to secure stable housing and contribute to the workforce.