Apparently, the goal of Joe Biden’s unilateral order to restrict access to the border for asylum seekers has been largely unsuccessful.

The migrant shelters in Massachusetts were at capacity, so Democratic Governor Maura Healey dispatched top aides to multiple Texas locations to visit them and make it clear to border officials and non-governmental groups that they must not allow any more migrants to enter the Bay State.

In a statement, L. Scott Rice, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet with families arriving in the U.S. and the groups that assist them at the border. He emphasized the need to provide them with accurate information regarding the shortage of shelter space in Massachusetts. The state’s shelter system is severely understaffed, and Healey chose Rice to head it.

He emphasized the need to spread the word that the shelters are full so that families have a safe place to go.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and New York City Mayor Eric Adams are among the other Democratic Party officials who have visited the border. They begged non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to stop sending migrants to their region.

It was really beneficial to them.

Politico:

“A “right-to-shelter” statute that dates back decades mandates that, like a New York City regulation, Massachusetts must offer emergency accommodation to families experiencing homelessness as well as pregnant women. In October, however, Healey capped the emergency system at 7,500 families as state resources became more and more strained. She also opened overflow sites for the hundreds of families who were still without a place to go and worked to expedite work permits for newly arrived migrants. At this time, 4,132 families are staying at overflow sites, while 7,379 are in shelters. The state legislature has ordered her administration to limit the amount of time people can stay in shelters to nine months. This is in response to the fact that emergency shelter costs are going to hit $1 billion this fiscal year and next, if the current pace of families seeking shelter continues.”

The report goes on:

“Healey and other state politicians have pleaded with and scolded Congress on the immigration issue, demanding that they approve a border package that will reduce the influx of migrants into the United States and allocate funds to states like Massachusetts that have suffered the most from the situation. However, Republicans in Congress have been stubborn in their refusal to compromise on a bipartisan accord that could give Biden a major win on a major topic in this election.”

Just like Biden’s executive order has failed miserably in its goal of reducing the influx of migrants at the southern border, the bipartisan bill that was discussed in February likely would not have achieved much in its goal of reducing illegal immigration. Reducing the number of asylum seekers has not solved the immediate problem of border crossers, but it is difficult to predict what this would entail for future border security.

In May, the administration announced that more than 331 families had left the EA system, which is the biggest number in years. This trend has persisted, with each passing month seeing a noticeable increase.

Healey still has a ways to go before she can solve the issue, as almost 8,000 families are now residing in shelters.

Author: Scott Dowdy