Massachusetts Governor Healey announces tougher background checks for emergency shelter residents

A major seizure at a Massachusetts migrant hotel that led to an arrest has led to more changes to the shelter system.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a statement Monday after Revere Police Patrol Units initiated an early morning investigation Friday inside a hotel room located at the Quality Inn, 100 Morris Street in Revere. The investigation resulted in patrol officers discovering a large capacity .556 caliber assault rifle, approximately 5 kilograms/10lbs of fentanyl with an estimated street value of over $1 million dollars. In addition, three large capacity rifle magazines, one of which was loaded with .556 ammunition, was recovered. Officers subsequently arrested Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, 28, for the weapons violation.

“It’s outrageous that this individual took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity. Our administration has been in touch with both local law enforcement and federal immigration officials regarding this case. 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. The people of Massachusetts should not continue to have to deal with the impacts of federal inaction. I’ve ordered an inspection of all shelter units, beginning with the Revere site, and a full review of our intake processes to determine any additional steps that we can take to prevent criminal activity in shelters.” -Governor Healey

According to WCVB, Healey has announced what some of those intake changes are.

Massachusetts was already performing limited background checks on emergency shelter residents and monthly warrant checks. Healey has now ordered that the checks include a CORI check. A name-based criminal record check (CORI) returns information on available Massachusetts arraignments.

The State House News Service announced that Healey filed a supplemental spending bill Monday, seeking another $425 million from a reserve account to keep the maxed-out emergency assistance shelter program running for the next six months.

More than 50% of the families in emergency shelters are from Massachusetts, according to Healey.