Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) announced inspections of all state-run emergency shelters following the arrest of an illegal alien allegedly in possession of a large stash of drugs and a rifle.
Revere Police reported that on December 28, 28-year-old Leonardo Andujar Sanchez was taken into custody with a loaded AR-15 rifle and roughly 10 pounds of fentanyl, valued at more than $1 million.
‘Broken Federal Immigration System’
Sanchez, a Dominican national in the U.S. illegally, was arrested at a Quality Inn in Revere, one of 128 hotels in Massachusetts currently housing migrants as shelters.
“This individual endangered occupants of the hotel, on-site workers, public safety personnel, and the community at large. His arrest underscores our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our community from those dealing deadly fentanyl and possessing illegal firearms,” Revere Police Chief David J. Callahan stated.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer request against Sanchez, who remains in state custody and is expected to be transferred to ICE upon release, according to The New York Post.
In response to Sanchez’s arrest and criticism from the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus, Healey announced statewide shelter inspections.
“It’s outrageous that this individual took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity,” Healey said. “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 we can take to prevent criminal activity in shelters.”
GOP Criticism and Prior Incidents
The Massachusetts House Republican Caucus wrote to Healey, expressing “deep concerns” over the incident and calling the situation “outrageous and totally unacceptable.”
“How is it possible an undocumented immigrant here illegally is receiving a benefit of emergency family shelter even though our laws do not allow it? How is it this individual wasn’t flagged in a so-called comprehensive background check upon application for shelter?” the letter stated.
The letter further noted other criminal incidents involving shelter residents, including a 26-year-old Haitian national charged with aggravated rape of a child in Rockland and later taken into ICE custody for being unlawfully present in the U.S.
Healey Points to Federal Failures
Healey criticized the Biden administration for its “inaction” on immigration and linked Sanchez’s case to broader systemic issues.
“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,” Healey said.
