People in Massachusetts aren’t sure how they feel about a state law that is decades old and has made the migrant situation worse in their state.
There is a rule in the state called “right-to-shelter” that applies to everyone, even people who have only been in the state for a short time. Paul Diego Craney, who lives in Massachusetts, spoke out about this. He said, “Anyone who comes to Massachusetts gets some benefits, whether they’ve been here for 20 years or 20 minutes.” One of them is called a “right to shelter.” What that really means is that taxpayers have to pay for your safety.
Many immigrants have been able to come to the state and find places to stay, even in public places like airports, thanks to the law. “We are becoming a destination for migrants,” he told us. “Because of this, our shelter and welfare systems are far too busy.” “And it’s turning into a pretty big mess,” Craney said.
Authorities in the state have even said that the law and the migrant problem have cost them more than $1 billion a year. It’s the only law of its kind at the state level and was passed in 1983.
A lot of government leaders have talked about how the rules of the state are what bring migrants to the area. They say that the state can’t just kick them out for no reason because the area is a “beacon to those in need.” Due to the high number of migrants in the state, the governor announced a state of emergency in the fall.
Some residents, like Craney, say that compassion alone can’t solve the problem. They all feel bad for the migrant’s position, but this has caused a lot of problems for the state.
