The Trump factor in Mass. migrant crisis

Politico

20-05-2025

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SHELTER SOLUTIONS — Gov. Maura Healey has sparred with the president over many of his policies. But Donald Trump's immigration crackdown may be helping solve one of the Democratic governor's biggest political headaches.
Almost two years after Healey declared a state of emergency over the surge of migrants arriving in Massachusetts, the administration announced Monday it would shutter all hotel shelters by the summer. That's because the number of families in the once-overflowing emergency shelter system is expected to drop below 4,000 — a goal Massachusetts lawmakers were aiming to hit by the end of the year.
Healey's administration is pointing to the limits they've placed on which and how many families are eligible to stay in state-run shelters.
'A hotel is no place to raise a family, and they are the least cost effective. That's why we implemented reforms to lower caseloads and the cost of the shelter system,' Healey said in a statement. 'We also promised to close all hotel shelters by the end of the year. I'm pleased that we are ahead of schedule, with more families getting jobs and moving to stable housing.'
But the dramatic decrease in immigration is also undoubtedly playing a role. 'We know since June of 2024 that fewer people have been coming into the country,' said Jeff Thielman, the CEO of International Institute of New England. The restrictions then-President Joe Biden placed on asylum last year have only increased under Trump, who won back the White House after promising to crack down on immigration.
And as the number of families in Massachusetts' shelter system has dropped, the percentage of families who are long-time Massachusetts residents has also shifted: It's now at roughly 85 percent, a change from 2023 when the state estimated that about half of those in the system were migrant families.
But it's not just state restrictions or federal immigration law that's responsible for the state's plummeting caseload.
'There's been a lot of work to prepare people to exit the shelters,' Thielman told Playbook, including English classes and job search assistance. 'And there's been an increase in that effort from organizations like ours to get people out of the shelters.
Still, lower shelter caseload isn't guaranteed to last, even as House and Senate budget writers gear up for a steep drop in shelter spending in fiscal year 26. Both chambers are calling for $275 million to fund the system that has cost the state closer to the $1 billion in recent years.
But other federal policies — tariffs, for example — could mean more people turning to the shelter system down the line.
'There's a lot of factors that put pressure on the emergency assistance system, one of which is, if the economy doesn't go in the right direction, and all of a sudden people don't have jobs or don't have enough money coming in,' Thielman said.
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GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The two Republicans competing to run against Healey in next year's gubernatorial race were both quick to write off the announcement.
Former MBTA executive Brian Shortsleeve's campaign said Healey 'has just reshuffled the deck and is again putting migrants ahead of our legal residents.' And Mike Kennealy, a former state economic development secretary, warned that the crisis 'will persist' as migrant homeless families are moved into 'taxpayer-subsidized apartments.'
TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey, first lady Joanna Lydgate and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attend the Medals of Liberty and Fidelity Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the State House. Healey and Driscoll join the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting at 6 p.m. in Boston. Attorney General Andrea Campbell participates in a fireside chat at the Massachusetts Library Association's annual conference at 11:30 a.m. in Falmouth. Rep. Ayanna Pressley hosts a press conference on the budget reconciliation package at 3:45 p.m. in D.C. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a coffee hour at 10 a.m. in Dorchester, speaks at the at the grand opening of The Toussaint Louverture Cultural Center at 5:45 p.m. in the West End and delivers remarks at the Boston EMS Awards and Retirement Banquet at 7 p.m. in Dorchester.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: [e-mail].
DATELINE BEACON HILL
— Mass. Senate leaders tuck $10m in earmarks into 'corrective' amendment to millionaires tax spending bill by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: 'The final change Massachusetts senators made to a 'millionaires tax' spending bill appeared to be a technical one. Without debate, the chamber this month approved a so-called corrective amendment, an addition former lawmakers and staff say is generally used to correct drafting errors or make sure the bill's bottom line is accurate. This one, however, did far more than make esoteric adjustments. In that single action, Senate Democrats swept in dozens of earmarks totaling nearly $10 million, many of which would push money to the towns and cities represented by Senate President Karen Spilka, Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues, and other Senate leaders.'
— Senate urged to bail out safety-net fund by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'State lawmakers are being urged to carve out a larger slice of the state budget to help community hospitals and clinics cover medical costs for large numbers of uninsured and low-income patients. The state Senate, which takes up a $62 billion state budget proposal on Tuesday, will be considering an amendment that calls for transferring $230 million from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund to plug revenue gaps in the state Health Safety Net program.'
FROM THE HUB
— These Boston office buildings have been approved for housing conversion. Will investors buy in? by Catherine Carlock, The Boston Globe: 'The owner of two downtown Boston office buildings that have been approved for conversion to housing is looking for other investors to make the transformation happen. In a key test of the appetite to fund residential conversions downtown, Billerica-based real estate firm KS Partners has tapped real estate brokerage CBRE to market 15 Court Square and 85 Devonshire St. in Boston to investors or developer partners, though KS plans to stay involved in the project. The Boston Planning and Development Agency board has approved plans to convert the downtown offices into a combined 175 apartments — 80 at 15 Court Square, and 95 at 85 Devonshire St. But the projects, which KS estimates would cost a combined $65 million, will need more equity financing to become a reality.'
— Boston Mayor Wu leads legal challenge to Trump administration's plans to strip immigration protections by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is co-leading a coalition of 30 U.S. cities, counties and elected officials challenging the Trump administration's plans to strip legal protections for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Wu announced that she was spearheading an amicus, or 'friend of the court,' brief on Monday, at around the same time that the Supreme Court chose to allow the Trump administration to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially exposing them to deportation.'
— Boston takes new steps to recognize the legacy of Malcolm X by Magdiela Matta, GBH News.
THE RACE FOR CITY HALL
— Josh Kraft pushes Mayor Wu to reveal Cabinet chief's 'role' in Boston City Hall dispute by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'After a city councilor called for Boston's Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu to be ousted, mayoral candidate Josh Kraft pressed Mayor Michelle Wu to reveal Idowu's 'role' in the City Hall domestic violence scandal. Kraft released a statement Monday that his campaign said is 'regarding questions surrounding the role of the city's chief of economic opportunity and inclusion in a recent dispute between several subordinates.''
— Amesbury's Rinaldi not seeking reelection by Matt Petry, The Newburyport Daily News: 'While municipal elections are still months away, District 2 City Councilor Anthony Rinaldi shook the local political landscape on Monday by announcing he will not be returning once his term ends this fall. 'I think we need some younger people. I'd be 83 when they swore me in,' Rinaldi said.'
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
— Merrimack Valley prepares to launch New England's first zero emission passenger ferries by Chris Burrell, GBH News: 'Merrimack Valley officials are planning to launch New England's first-ever zero emission ferry next year to provide passenger service on the Merrimack River between Haverhill, Amesbury and Newburyport. The small scale project is being eyed by other transit officials as a kind of proof-of-concept that could open the door to wider use of zero-emission boats around the state. Officials from the Merrimack Valley Transit, also known as MeVa, say they will advertise this month for bids to build two solar-powered ferries, armed with a $4.2 million federal grant.'
DAY IN COURT
— Supreme Court allows Trump administration to revoke legal statuses of 350K Venezuelans by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: 'The Supreme Court on Monday permitted the Trump administration to revoke the legal protections of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants President Joe Biden, at the end of his term, extended the deadlines of about 350,000 Venezuelans with temporary protected status so they could remain and work in the United States legally. That includes many in Massachusetts.'
IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN
— No signs of major progress at offshore wind project by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: 'In February 2024, Gov. Maura Healey and Vineyard Wind touted 68 megawatts of power pouring onto the grid from five offshore wind turbines, saying Massachusetts was on its way toward fulfilling the promise of more jobs, lower costs and energy independence associated with home-grown production. … Fifteen months later, the Healey administration's ambitious offshore wind procurement pursuits have largely stalled. The governor's team says Vineyard Wind is running four turbines in the waters south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. And Vineyard Wind officials don't want to answer basic questions about their project.'
FROM THE 413
— Mayor Marchetti's encampment ban ordinance draws backlash from housing advocates, city residents by Claire O'Callahan, The Berkshire Eagle: 'Pittsfield mayor Peter Marchetti has introduced an ordinance that would amend the city's code to ban people from creating temporary shelter on public property, whether that be a tent in a local park, a bedroll in a doorway on North Street or a sleeping bag tucked under the eave of the library. Advocates say it would criminalize people who don't have a place to live — exposing them to heightened policing, reinforcing structural racism and further entrenching them in poverty with fines they can't pay.'
— Rowe Selectboard race questioned after campaign miscues by Madison Schofield, Greenfield Recorder: 'Town officials are awaiting guidance from the State Ethics Commission after both candidates for a Rowe Selectboard seat in Saturday's election may have committed campaign or ethics law violations.'
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— Worcester councilor slams ICE protesters, says they should have helped children by Adam Bass MassLive: 'A Worcester City Councilor asserts that people on Eureka Street who protested the May 8 arrest of a Brazilian mother made the situation worse, claiming they should have focused their efforts on helping the mother's daughters. … People who protested the arrest 'crossed a line,' and were accused by authorities of obstructing and physically assaulting ICE agents and Worcester Police officers at the scene, [Councilor-at-Large and Public Safety Committee Chair Kathleen] Toomey said in her statement.'
— Four South Shore towns voted on tax overrides to help budget. Only one passed measure by Hannah Morse, The Patriot Ledger: 'At its annual election, Hanover passed its $3.7 million override by a vote of 3,118 for, or 60%, and 2,065 against. This turnout was equivalent to a little over half of the votes cast during the 2024 general election, which tends to bring more voters out to the polls. But Hanson, Norwell and Whitman all rejected their proposed overrides. Hanson had pitched a $3 million override, while Norwell asked for a $3.7 million override and Whitman requested a $2 million override.'
— Report describes aggressive behavior by Billerica Select Board member by Peter Currier, The Lowell Sun: 'An investigation by an outside firm into the conduct of Billerica Select Board member Dina Favreau found she violated the Code of Conduct on multiple occasions during interactions with town staff and fellow Select Board members in recent months.'
HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH
TRANSITIONS — Former Methuen City Councilor James McCarty will be the new chief of staff to Mayor David D.J. Beauregard.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Corey Welford, former state Rep. Juana Matias, Allison Goldberg, Kathy Giles, Matt Solberg, Charlotte Zanecchia, Bill Broadway, Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy and UMass journalism's Kathy Roberts Forde. Happy belated to Francine Segan, who celebrated Monday.