A blue state governor who vowed to fight the Trump administration’s deportation efforts expressed outrage Monday after a migrant was reportedly caught with nearly $1 million worth of drugs and an AR-15 rifle at a hotel that was temporarily used as a shelter.
“It is outrageous that this person took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity.” Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement.
Healey was responding to news of Dominican Republic native Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, who was charged with firearms and drug trafficking while using the state’s shelter system. The suspect, 28, was found at a Quality Inn in Revere, Massachusetts, which is currently serving as a shelter.
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Massive Governor Maura Healey and a group of migrants at the southern border. ((Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images and Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images))
Sanchez was reportedly caught in possession of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, fentanyl and cocaine with “an estimated street value of at least $750,000,” Boston 25 News reported.
Sánchez is reportedly being held without bail because a Chelsea court judge deemed the suspect dangerous. Another local outlet reported Sánchez entered entered the U.S. illegally last year and obtained an ID from the New York shelter system.
The governor of Massachusetts ordered inspections of shelters after the incident.
“I have ordered an inspection of all shelter units, beginning with the Revere location, and a full review of our intake processes to determine any additional steps we can take to prevent criminal activity in shelters,” Healey said. “This further underscores our broken federal immigration system and the urgent need for Congress and the White House to take action under a border security law to prevent criminals from entering our communities.”
“The people of Massachusetts should no longer have to deal with the consequences of federal inaction,” she added.
By 2023, Healey said of her conditionmigrants are “drawn here because we are and have been proud to be a beacon for those in need.”
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Massachusetts is one of a number of states overwhelmed by the flow of migrants coming from the southern border. (Photographer: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Shortly after the elections Healey promised to hinder President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement plan.
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Healey said on MSNBC in November that her state police would “absolutely not” cooperate with the incoming Trump administration’s expected mass deportation efforts and warned that she will use “every tool in the toolbox” to “protect our citizens.”
“I think it’s important that we all recognize that there’s going to be a lot of pressure on states and state officials. I can assure you that we will work hard to achieve the objectives,” she said at the time. “So I think the key here is that, you know, every tool in the toolbox has to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and our states and to hold the line of democracy and the rule of law.” a basic principle.”
Healey’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Migrants line the floors of Boston’s Logan International Airport. (Fox News)
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Tom Homan, newly elected President Trump’s “border czar,” has warned state and local officials against obstructing the new administration’s efforts to arrest illegal immigrants.
“The president has been clear: We are going to focus on the threats to public safety and the threats to national security from the beginning,” Homan said. said during an interview on Fox News. “If they don’t want to help us, get the hell out of the way, we’re going to do it.”
Massachusetts is one of a number of states that’s overwhelming by the wave of migrants coming from the southern border.
To be able to manage Due to the growing number of migrants, Healey had to impose restrictions on shelter programs to prioritize state residents.
Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
