Massachusetts Republicans have officially demanded information from the state government about what they claim is “undisclosed spending of $1 billion on the migrant crisis.”
As the number of migrants in the state continues to rise, the Massachusetts Republican Party (MassGOP) is urging Governor Maura Healey’s administration to provide transparent information on the financial impact of this crisis on residents.
In a public statement, MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale criticized the Healey-Driscoll administration for what she described as a lack of transparency in handling nearly $1 billion in state funds related to the migrant crisis. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration has shrouded nearly $1 billion spent in secrecy, leaving Massachusetts residents in the dark,” Carnevale stated.
She claimed that the administration has not been transparent about 600 incidents related to police, fire, and EMT services connected to the migrant situation. She also accused the administration of preventing journalists from obtaining information.
To address these issues, MassGOP has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The request seeks detailed information on the state’s spending for migrant housing.
In particular, Carnevale has requested the names of government and private entities involved in offering emergency housing for migrants, the locations of these housing facilities, any communication regarding public safety concerns, and incident or police reports linked to the migrant crisis.
Carnevale argues that the Democratic supermajority in Massachusetts has created what she describes as a “veil of secrecy” around the state’s response to the migrant crisis. “Today, the Massachusetts Republican Party is standing against the veil of secrecy and the obstructionist efforts of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Democratic supermajority,” Carnevale asserted.
She also expressed solidarity with the Massachusetts press corps in their efforts to demand transparency, stating, “The public deserves transparency. Release the details on the vendors profiting from this crisis and the public safety issues affecting our communities.”
The MassGOP has made a request following the release of a report on July 24 by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) warning about the potential challenges Massachusetts may face in managing the growing number of migrants arriving in the state.
According to the report authored by Jessica Vaughan, CIS’s director of policy studies, Massachusetts has already spent more than $1 billion on its Emergency Assistance sheltering program for migrants. The report also highlighted that these costs could escalate if migrants currently in temporary shelters remain in the state long-term.
In addition to temporary housing expenses, the report outlined other financial burdens that Massachusetts taxpayers may encounter, including costs related to schooling, social services, medical care, and public safety.
The CIS report estimated that around 355,000 “illegal and inadmissible” migrants currently reside in Massachusetts, with approximately 50,000 new arrivals since 2021. Of these arrivals, 10,000 were reported to be minors, with 8,500 being unaccompanied.
As tensions between the state’s Republican and Democratic leaders continue to grow over the handling of the migrant crisis, MassGOP’s call for transparency and accountability is significant.
The response from Governor Healey’s administration to this request could have important implications for the state’s policies and financial planning regarding the ongoing migrant crisis.
You can read the full statement from the MassGOP below:
MassGOP Demands Transparency: Unveils FOIA Requests to Expose $1 Billion in Secret Migrant Crisis Spending and 600 Public Safety Incidents
August 27, 2024
Boston, MA— On behalf of the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Republican Party Chair has formally submitted FOIA requests to the Executive Office for Administration & Finance, the Office of the Governor, Legal Counsel, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development. These requests seek full disclosure on the vendors involved in the migrant crisis, including their payments, as well as detailed information on the 600 incidents involving police, fire, and medical emergencies in state-funded emergency housing.
Massachusetts Republican Party Chair, Amy Carnevale, released the following statement, “The Healey-Driscoll Administration has shrouded nearly $1 billion dollars spent in secrecy, leaving Massachusetts residents in the dark. They have withheld critical information on 600 incidents involving police, fire, and EMTs. Blocking journalists at every turn, the administration has obstructed the flow of information to the public. This call for transparency is underscored by the efforts of Senator Tarr and the Senate GOP caucus, who proposed an amendment to the Senate budget requiring all services for the emergency shelter system to be subject to competitive bidding and posted on Open Checkbook. This amendment, aimed at ensuring accountability and efficiency, was unfortunately blocked by the Democratic supermajority. Similar efforts were proposed by the House GOP caucus but were also blocked.”
“Today, the Massachusetts Republican Party is standing against the veil of secrecy and the obstructionist efforts of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Democratic supermajority. We stand with the Massachusetts press corps in declaring: enough is enough. The public deserves transparency. Release the details on the vendors profiting from this crisis and the public safety issues affecting our communities. On behalf of Massachusetts residents, we are demanding accountability,” Carnevale concluded.
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