Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey orders inspection of state-run shelters after an illegal migrant is arrested with an AR-15 rifle and drugs in a taxpayer-funded hotel room.
At a Glance
- Gov. Healey ordered inspections of all state-run emergency shelters following the arrest
- The arrested individual, Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, faced charges including illegal firearm possession and heroin trafficking
- The incident occurred in a Quality Inn hotel room used to house asylum seekers and homeless families
- Gov. Healey criticized the federal government, citing a broken immigration system
- Approximately 355,000 illegal migrants and inadmissible foreign nationals reside in Massachusetts
Governor Orders Comprehensive Shelter Inspection
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has initiated a sweeping review of the state’s shelter system following the arrest of an illegal migrant found with an AR-15 rifle and drugs in a taxpayer-funded hotel room. The incident has sparked concerns about the integrity of the state’s emergency shelter program, prompting immediate action from the governor’s office.
The arrest of Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, a 28-year-old Dominican national, has brought to light potential vulnerabilities in the shelter system. Sanchez faces charges including illegal possession of a firearm and heroin trafficking. The discovery occurred in a Quality Inn hotel room in Revere, Massachusetts, which is part of the state’s network of 128 hotels and motels used to house asylum seekers and homeless families.
Mass migrant shelter arrest: Healey orders shelter inspections https://t.co/ie5wN5gqiw via @BostonGlobe
— Scott MacKay (@ScotMackRI) January 7, 2025
Governor’s Response and Federal Criticism
In response to the incident, Governor Healey didn’t mince words, expressing her outrage and announcing immediate measures to address the situation. She ordered inspections of all shelter units and a comprehensive review of the state’s intake processes to prevent criminal activities within the emergency shelter system.
“It’s outrageous that this individual took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity,” Healey said.
The Governor also took aim at the federal government, highlighting what she sees as systemic failures in immigration policy. “This further underscores our broken federal immigration system and the urgent need for Congress and the White House to act on a border security bill to prevent criminals from entering our communities,” she said.
Immigration Status and Broader Implications
Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Andujar’s illegal status, revealing that he had entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2024. His case is not isolated, as it follows other criminal incidents within Massachusetts’ shelter system, including a previous case involving a Haitian man accused of rape.
The situation in Massachusetts reflects a larger national issue. The state currently hosts approximately 355,000 illegal migrants and inadmissible foreign nationals, with around 50,000 having arrived since 2021. This influx has put significant strain on state resources, with a state commission report projecting over $1 billion in spending on the emergency shelter system for migrants and families in the 2025 fiscal year.
