Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey has shockingly flipped her stance on the blue state’s sanctuary and immigration policies.
During separate interviews this week, Healey plainly stated, “We’re not a sanctuary state.”
This position seems to be a total one-eighty from her staunch commitment to protect the state’s illegal inhabitants after President-elect Donald Trump won the 2024 election.
In November, she joined other Democratic leaders in pledging to resist his proposed “largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”
At the time, Healey declared that Massachusetts state police would “absolutely not” assist Trump’s plan and even promised to use “every tool in the toolbox” to shield undocumented immigrants living in the state.
“So I think the key here is that, you know, every tool in the tool box has got to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states and to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle,” she told MSNBC after the election.
She called on the federal government to provide funding to her “beacon” state in 2023, after declaring a state of emergency due to the influx in migrants.
“Many of these families are migrants to Massachusetts, drawn here because we are and proudly have been a beacon to those in need,” she wrote in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
This week, however, Healey’s statements suggest a potential change in direction. Speaking to the Boston Globe, the governor expressed a desire to collaborate with the incoming administration to address immigration concerns.
“He’s got Congress and the Senate,” she remarked in reference to Trump. “And I hope he acts on that so that we see comprehensive immigration reform, we see a strengthening of the border, and we also see a pathway to citizenship for people who’ve been here, working, contributing to our economy, paying taxes.”
Healey also outlined challenges related to housing. Talking with the Boston Herald, she acknowledged the “overwhelming” strain on resources caused by housing large numbers of migrants in the state.
“We have a limited budget, and the emergency shelter system really was meant for Massachusetts families who were experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity and needed a place to go that was temporary,” she explained.
Healey highlighted the need for emergency shelters to act as short-term solutions for families.
Notably, Healey shared her views on deportation, specifying that “violent criminals should be deported if they’re not here lawfully.”
Unlike some other states, Massachusetts does not comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests.
But now the governor is calling for collaboration between local, state, and federal authorities to remove serious threats.
“I think what we need to do is work together here in Massachusetts to do both things,” she stated.
According to Healey, this includes “investigating, holding accountable, deporting as necessary folks who are here unlawfully, who’ve engaged in criminal activity” while also protecting individuals who contribute positively to the state—those “working here, going to school here, raising kids here.”
She stressed the importance of ensuring these individuals feel safe accessing basic services like healthcare, education, and employment.
On reducing taxpayer costs associated with the emergency shelter system, Healey is optimistic that it could eventually shrink.
Meanwhile, ICE officials have been quick to push back against Healey’s claim that Massachusetts isn’t a sanctuary state.
Todd Lyons, a high-ranking figure at ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), criticized the state for harboring “so many cities and municipalities” that “openly” endorse sanctuary policies.
Lyons pointed out that the state resists sharing vital information with ICE, including data from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
He said authorities refuse to provide details on driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations, making coordination difficult.
Additionally, he noted the restrictions placed on Massachusetts State Police, who are reportedly “not allowed to work with ERO.” He described the lack of cooperation as “a big problem.”
Doesn’t cooperate with ICE, but isn’t a sanctuary. Okaaaaay.
Huge portion that don’t work, some that do, but get payed under the table, don’t pay taxes, and yet get healthcare and benefits. Democrats are the party of Satan.
Guess who realized Tom Homan and the Trump administration aren’t f*cking around and will actually
arrest even politicians if they try to interfere with these deportations?
She and other Blue State governors are just scrambling to protect their asses from Trumps promise to deport all illegal aliens “OR ELSE” face penalties. Every sanctuary city SHOULD be punished for what they did buy cutting all federal funding until they clean up their commie ways. First they “virtue signaled” by welcoming the illegals like good little liberals. Then the “defunded the police” for the same reasons. Then when they finally had to deal with the immigrant problem financially they came running to the government to help. They deserve NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT for their WOKE agenda games. Let them suffer for being stupid liberals with zero brains. They deserve no mercy.