Massachusetts National Guard Mobilized to Aid in Migrant Crisis

The Massachusetts National Guard has been deployed as "rapid response teams" to assist with the state's overwhelmed migrant shelters, as Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency due to the strain on the shelter system. Currently, over 6,000 migrant families are in emergency shelters across the state. The National Guard members will coordinate access to meals, medical care, and transportation in hotels and motels without service providers. The state has been scrambling to find housing, including using Joint Base Cape Cod as a temporary shelter. Governor Healey has called on the federal government for more funding and assistance, urging Congress and the Department of Homeland Security to address immigration laws and provide additional financial aid. Boston has received a $1.9 million grant from FEMA to support migrants with shelter and transportation.