In an interview that aired on NBC on Sunday, Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka discussed the state’s migrant dilemma. She echoed calls for additional assistance and action from the federal government.
“These are families,” Spilka stated on NBC’s “Issue” programme. “These are mothers who are accompanied by their children. I mean, children make up more than half of the migrant population. And not only do we need to aid, but Massachusetts also requires assistance.
In the past several months, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has experienced an increase in the number of migrants arriving in the state and seeking refuge in emergency shelters. As of the end of September, there are over 6,500 families in the state that are residing in emergency shelters. This number includes families who are homeless as well as migrants.
The Healey administration has taken actions, such as increasing funding for emergency shelters by an additional $250 million and expanding legal services for migrants who are currently residing in shelters.
However, Spilka responded that there is a limit to what the state can do, and that assistance from the federal government would “certainly help.”
The President of the Senate echoed a request for greater federal resources and money to be spent on mitigating the crisis, as well as for “way overdue” immigration reform and change to the Federal Work Permit System in order to allow migrants to work.
When she was asked if she would consider eliminating the state’s “right to shelter” provision, which some state politicians believe draws migrants to the state, she responded by saying that the law is “not the factor.”
“I am not sure if that is what is pulling migrants coming, because other states that don’t have that are experiencing the exact same influx of migrants,” said Spilka. “I am not certain if that is what is pulling migrants coming.” “The factor that I think is more important is what’s happening all across the world. And those going to the United States who wind up in places like Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and a great number of other states all around our country.”
She went on to say that the legislative body will keep up the pressure on the congressional delegation and would keep working with the Healey administration on the matter.
On Sunday’s episode of “Morning Joe,” Mary Skipper, superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, discussed the implications of the migrant issue on local schools.
Since the first of July, according to Skipper, the district has successfully enrolled 1,300 freshly arrived immigrants. She also mentioned that a significant number of the passengers were older students who travelled alone.
“For me as a superintendent, this is a critical issue because it’s not only about making sure that our recently arrived immigrants are getting access to language instruction and development, but it’s also the wraparound that our families are needing that are coming,” Skipper said, citing assistance with homelessness and food security as examples. “For me as a superintendent, this is a critical issue because it’s not only about making sure that our recently arrived immigrants are getting access to language instruction and development,” said Skipper.
Over the next few years, one of the most important considerations, according to Skipper, will be making certain that these and other youngsters are “really cared for in our district and provided an education of the highest calibre.”
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