Massachusetts: Hard to Beat This State as a Preferred Destination for Illegal Aliens
Looking for the best deal is rational human behavior — economically essential for many, recreational sport for others, and the antecedent to decision-making for all…including illegal aliens.
The challenge of choosing how to optimize one’s crossing into the United States isn’t particularly difficult given Biden’s open-border policies that make breaking and entering a breeze any way, anytime, and anywhere (although recent efforts by Texas have succeeded in convincing many to try another state). Cartels and human smugglers offer plenty of initial guidance as well. No, for illegal aliens, the tough choices involve figuring out where to settle permanently, and to identify where the best incentives are offered. After all, it’s a big country. But a recently revealed list of freebies offered to illegal aliens in Massachusetts makes that decision easier now. Forget California; heading north is a slam dunk decision.
Howie Carr, a long-time investigative columnist, political reporter, and syndicated radio talk host recently disclosed in the Boston Herald a lengthy list of entitlements being provided to migrants housed in Massachusetts shelters. Due to space limitations on this column, and mercy for quick readers, the list is heavily summarized here, but we think you’ll get the picture.
- The state spends $64 a day per migrant on food, plus $150 on each room including twice-a-week housekeeping, same-day free dry-cleaning, on-site free medical and dental services, free cell phones, chargers, laptops and tablets.
- Migrant families are provided free diapers, diaper pails, wipes, cribs, bassinets, playpens, baby bottles, baby formula, free car seats, and free new-mother bags.
- Migrant families get WIC (women, infants and children’s) welfare cards of $400-$800 a month.
- Migrants are eligible for Department of Transitional Assistance — welfare benefits which can run up to $2,880 a month for a “family” of four.
- Migrants get free MassHealth (Medicaid) coverage, free vaccinations, free Uber/Lyft to schools, grocery stores, doctors’ appointments, hospitals or job interviews
- Upon moving out of the shelter, migrants are given free U-Haul services and boxes for the move, free luggage on departure day, and free new beds, all delivered for free, Up to 10 new items of furniture are furnished — couch, kitchen tables, end tables, rugs etc. Delivered for free.
- The state, not Welcome Wagon, will also provide a $900 move-in package (dishes, towels, cutlery, etc.)
- And more. A lot more.
No one seems to have asked Massachusetts taxpayers if they think the migrant honey-pot-of-benefits is much of a bargain for them. Despite Governor Maura Healey declaring a statewide migrant emergency, Massachusetts officials refuse to acknowledge that their long-standing sanctuary polices have incentivized a massive surge of migrants and imposed costly burdens. In a perversely self-propagating cycle of endless contempt for taxpayers, their only response is to double-down with lavish migrant subsidies which, of course, only incentivize further flows…because word of mouth travels fast at the southern border.
The situation is dire. As FAIR’s 2023 report showed, 393,000 illegal aliens and their U.S.-born children live in Massachusetts costing taxpayers $2.9 billion annually for health care, education, criminal justice, and general welfare. That does not account for an additional $850 million the Massachusetts Legislature is now considering to cover unexpected and mounting expenses this year alone. Nor does it account for the recent addition of 4,000 indigent migrants living in overflowing state shelters. More are arriving each day, forcing a statewide scramble to locate additional “safety-net sites” … none, by the way, on affluent Beacon Hill or Nantucket.
One other little problem the state hasn’t yet come to grips with: Given that Massachusetts currently has the third largest Haitian diaspora in the U.S., that population is likely to grow exponentially as that country’s crisis worsens. (Wouldn’t you migrate to where your fellow compatriots already hit the jackpot?)
Massachusetts is nicknamed the “Bay State” given its multiple shores on Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay. Considering its multiple benefits extended to illegal aliens — now a veritable smorgasbord — “Pay State” is more apt. After all, it’s the best deal around for those who don’t give a hoot about fussing with green cards and visas, and all that legal stuff.
Yep, even though illegal aliens break the law, they’re rational actors and shop around for good deals just like everyone else, but unlike politicians in Massachusetts, they actually make decisions based in their own best interests.