The Massachusetts governor is considering restricting the number of illegal immigrants in crime-prone migrant shelters.

In response to growing safety concerns, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is taking a tougher stance on the state's migrant crisis, with President-elect Trump's inauguration looming.

Healey, a Democrat, is suggesting radical alterations to the state's approach to housing migrants by advocating that all families residing in emergency shelters be legally present in the country, with minimal exceptions. This proposal would effectively bar new migrants from utilizing state shelters.

The proposed change, following a review of the state's right-to-shelter law, would require all shelter applicants to demonstrate their citizenship or lawful permanent residency, or to show that they are in the country "under the color of law." However, there are exceptions for households with U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident children.

The governor aims to enhance background checks for individuals staying at shelters by mandating them to reveal their criminal records in the state and beyond.

Currently, applicants for shelter are allowed to be housed without verifying their identity, residency, and immigration status.

Rewritten sentence: The state of Massachusetts will provide shelter benefits to individuals who have been evicted from their homes in Massachusetts.

"Healey stated that the proposed changes are necessary for the long-term sustainability of the state shelter system, aligning with the original intent of the law. These changes will also ensure the safety of the system, support cities and towns in addressing the needs of unhoused families in their communities, and put the state on the path toward a more fiscally sustainable shelter system."

Amid safety concerns at the state's shelters and various crimes being linked to illegal migrants in the state, records indicate that there have been hundreds of serious incidents at the shelters, including rapes.

In the Boston area and throughout Massachusetts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has seen a recent spike in illegal immigrants arrested for sex crimes.

In November, Healey stated that her state police will not cooperate with the expected mass deportation effort by the incoming Trump administration and will use all available tools to safeguard the blue state's residents.

Healey's new proposals regarding the state's right to shelter law were met with criticism due to the continued inaction by Congress and lack of assistance from the federal government.

The Senate President, Speaker, and House and Senate Ways and Means Chairs need to approve the proposals, as Healey outlined her recommendations in a letter to them, urging the changes to be included in the Emergency Assistance (EA) Supplemental Budget.

By the end of 2025, the administration will discontinue the use of hotels and motels as shelters.

Forty years ago, Massachusetts enacted its Right to Shelter law to offer housing to families in need, particularly pregnant women and children experiencing homelessness.

Overwhelmed by the influx of migrants seeking refuge under the law, the state has declared a state of emergency and called for federal intervention. Healey also recognized that the state's policies may be attracting migrants.

As the shelter system became overcrowded, migrants were forced to sleep on the floors of Boston's Logan International Airport.

Since 2021, approximately 50,000 migrants have arrived in the state, according to a July report from the Center for Immigration Studies.

The new proposal, according to Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano, aligns with the efforts of lawmakers.

The House has been at the forefront of efforts to maintain the financial stability of the Commonwealth's emergency assistance program, resulting in changes that limit the length of stay in shelters and require job training for those in the system, as stated by the Associated Press.

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr also welcomed the proposal.

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr stated that with the increasing agreement on Beacon Hill and across the Commonwealth that significant changes are necessary immediately, we now have the chance to implement actions that will enhance the safety, accountability, and transparency of the system, as well as make it more sustainable.

In August, the Republican Party of Massachusetts accused Healey of secretly spending over $1 billion on the state's migrant crisis.

Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale stated that the Healey-Driscoll Administration concealed nearly $1 billion in spending, leaving the state's residents in the dark.

"The administration has obstructed the flow of information to the public by withholding critical information on 600 incidents involving police, fire, and EMTs, and blocking journalists at every turn."