White House sending team to Massachusetts to assess migrant crisis

MASS — The White House is sending a team to Massachusetts to assess the migrant crisis situation.

In a statement sent to Boston 25 from the White House, the team will be made up of Homeland Security members.

The team will be deployed to find ways to improve efficiencies and maximize our support for communities that are addressing the needs of migrants.

Earlier this week, Rep. Jake Auchincloss said in a letter he wants the White House to send a team to Massachusetts to see the challenges the state is facing firsthand.

“I will continue to connect state and local officials and migrants arriving in Massachusetts’ Fourth District with the federal resources that are currently available and encourage the Biden administration to send an assessment team to Boston to see first-hand the challenges we are facing. This crisis is yet another clarion call for Congress to finally pass immigration reform.”

According to Auchincloss’s press office, the White House administration has since said they will send an assessment team.

“This is an important step towards results & relief for Massachusetts,” Auchincloss said in reaction to the news.

Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency when it comes to migrants entering the Bay State. But under the state’s right-to-shelter law, which guarantees shelter to homeless families with children, the state now houses migrants in hotels.

“Our administration welcomes the opportunity to show officials from the Department of Homeland Security the extremely challenging situation we are facing here in Massachusetts and discuss much-needed federal support,” said a spokesperson for the governor’s office.

“This fiscal year, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided $2.9 million in federal grant funding to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston to support recently arrived migrants,” the White House said in a statement.

According to Politico, more than 6,700 homeless families are currently staying in shelters, hotels, and motels throughout the state.

“White House Officials have been in close contact with Mayor Wu, Governor Healey, and their respective staff, and will remain in coordination with the city and commonwealth to determine best practices and ways in which the federal government can support Boston and Massachusetts over the coming weeks and months, or until Congress takes action to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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