Hotel for Migrants in Danvers

I recently posted a video by an investigative journalist who was turned away from a former Comfort Inn in Danvers. His focus was on illegal immigration and unaccompanied minors seemingly lost in the system. There seems to be lots of interest in this subject on a local and national level because of the upcoming election. Unfortunately, details are shrouded in secrecy, probably because US Citizens would be outraged if they knew the truth of where their taxpayer money is going. It’s going to migrants entering our borders illegally and allowed to stay in the country under Biden’s parole program. I did some research to satisfy my curiosity and found some helpful information from a Jun 2024 Center for Immigration Studies report and from a July 2024 Boston Globe article. The hotel is now an emergency shelter for families with children and for pregnant individuals. It was brokered by Choice Hotels through a non-bid contract with the Commonwealth. Hotels can’t be forced to participate so the full-room rate is paid as an incentive. The last reported figure for Danver was 173 families. They can stay for nine months with 90-day extensions for those who are pregnant or disabled, and those with certain medical conditions and those at risk of harm. If not a US citizen, at least one hotel resident must have a green card or have applied for asylum. Other benefits include three meals a day ($64per person), free diapers, wipes, toiletries, free tablets and phones, free Uber and Lyft rides, and bus passes. All have MassHealth and free legal services as well as Department of Transitional Assistance (welfare) and EBT cards. There are personal reports that some take Uber to immigration offices costing $130 round trip. If DCF says they need a crib, stroller or toys, management is required to order them, arriving the next day by Amazon.

Because of Massachusetts’ sanctuary policies, ours is one of the top destinations guaranteeing housing, welfare programs, health coverage and other benefits regardless of immigration status. It’s important, though, to differentiate between a migrant and a refugee. Unfortunately, this is where the Commonwealth lacks transparency. A migrant chooses to move from one place to another while a refugee is forced to flee their country due to war, persecution or violence, and can’t safely return. I don’t think any of us are against immigration of refugees who enter our country legally. We are, however, against using taxpayer monies for migrants who choose to come here with no regard for our legal system. Six million new migrants have arrived in the US outside of lawful immigration programs since 2021. Ten thousand are in Massachusetts and we have paid over one billion dollars to house many of them under the emergency shelter system. People crossing our borders illegally are allowed to enter after apprehension. Inadmissible migrants are allowed to fly from abroad. Anyone unlawfully entering the US undetected is allowed to stay – all covered under Biden’s controversial “Parole” Program. This includes processing in the US, so far, 14,000 Cubans & Haitians, 2,000 Afghans & Ukranians, 8,500 unaccompanied minors and 10,500 others which include Nicaraguans & Venezuelans. These “parolees” must list a sponsor and submit a declaration of financial support. Sponsors are not, however, required to be citizens of the US nor are they required to provide shelter, support or any other assistance. They don’t even have to be acquainted with the migrant beforehand. The entrance sign at the former Comfort Inn is written in Haitian Creole, Spanish and English.

Communities absorbing migrants of illegal immigration are seeing human trafficking, human smuggling, drug trafficking, gang crimes, illegal employment, identity theft, money laundering, wage theft and forced labor. Incarcerating these criminals now exceeds $27 million per year in the US. The cost to taxpayers of temporary housing and shelters is enormous but pales in comparison to costs that will accumulate in the future if those in temporary shelters today remain here for the long term. We must insist on more transparency from our government – local and state-wide. We must also vote the Democratic leadership responsible for this mess out of office.