Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey sent state officials to the U.S.-Mexico border this week with a message for migrant families who may be planning to come to Boston. They plan to tell families: “Our shelters are full,” according to a statement from Massachusetts Emergency Assistance CEO Scott Rice. Healey’s office said the goal is for state staff to make connections with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Joint Task Force North, nongovernmental organizations and families to educate them about the lack of shelter availability in Massachusetts. “This trip is an important opportunity to meet with families arriving in the U.S. and the organizations working with them at the border to ensure they have accurate information about the lack of shelter space in Massachusetts,” Rice said. While the state’s emergency shelter system is at full capacity, the Healey administration said record numbers of immigrant families continue to arrive in Boston. “It is essential that we let it be known that our shelters are full so that families can plan accordingly and ensure they have a safe place to go,” Rice said. Massachusetts officials will visit the San Antonio Airport, the San Antonio Welcome Center/Migrant Shelter and Resource Center, the Ursula Processing Center in McAllen, the Hidalgo Port of Entry, and the Brownsville. “San Antonio, McAllen, Hidalgo and Brownsville are the most common entry points for families who then arrive in Massachusetts,” the administration said. Rice will lead the group, which also includes his deputy director, the executive director of the MA Office of Refugees and Immigrants and the strategy manager of the Housing Stabilization Division. A new 9-month limit on how long families can stay in emergency shelters was recently approved by the legislature in response to capacity issues and the Healey administration said the first families could be forced out of the system as soon as on September 29. There is also a requirement that families in safety net sites participate in state-provided services. , including requests for work authorization or English classes, within 30 days. The administration reported that it has helped 3,785 immigrants apply for work authorizations and has enrolled 1,120 in English courses since November. “The number of families leaving the EA system has steadily increased each month, with more than 331 families leaving in May, the highest number in years,” management reported.
BOSTON-
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey sent state officials this week to the U.S.-Mexico border with a message for migrant families who may be planning to come to Boston.
They plan to tell families: “Our shelters are full,” according to a statement from Massachusetts Emergency Assistance Director General Scott Rice.
Healey’s office said the goal is for state staff to make connections with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Joint Task Force-North, nongovernmental organizations and families to educate them about the lack of availability of shelters in Massachusetts.
“This trip is an important opportunity to meet with families arriving in the United States and the organizations working with them at the border to ensure they have accurate information about the lack of shelter space in Massachusetts,” Rice said.
While the state’s emergency shelter system is at full capacity, the Healey administration said record numbers of immigrant families continue to arrive in Boston.
“It is essential that we get the word out that our shelters are full so that families can plan accordingly and ensure they have a safe place to go,” Rice said.
Massachusetts officials will visit the San Antonio Airport, the San Antonio Welcome Center/Migrant Shelter and Resource Center, the Ursula Processing Center in McAllen, the Hidalgo Port of Entry, and the Brownsville.
“San Antonio, McAllen, Hidalgo and Brownsville are the most common entry points for families who then arrive in Massachusetts,” the administration said.
Rice will lead the group, which also includes her deputy director, the executive director of the MA Office of Refugees and Immigrants and the strategy manager for the Housing Stabilization Division.
The legislature recently passed a new nine-month limit on how long families can stay in emergency shelters in response to capacity issues, and the Healey administration said the first families could be forced out of the system as soon as the 29th. of September. requirement that families in safety net sites participate in state-provided services, including applications for work authorization or English classes, within 30 days.
The administration reported that it has helped 3,785 immigrants apply for work authorizations and has enrolled 1,120 in English courses since November.
“The number of families leaving the EA system has steadily increased each month, with more than 331 families leaving in May, the highest number in years,” management reported.
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