Massachusetts Governor Orders Inspections
The irony here practically writes itself. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a staunch opponent of President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies, is now grappling with the ugly realities of her own open-arms approach to illegal immigration. A migrant, allegedly in the country illegally, was caught holed up in a taxpayer-funded shelter with nearly a million dollars’ worth of fentanyl, cocaine, an AR-15 rifle, and high-capacity magazines. That’s not exactly the image of the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” that sanctuary state advocates like Healey love to champion.
Let’s cut through the political doublespeak: This situation isn’t just outrageous, as Governor Healey put it—it’s entirely predictable. When a state proudly advertises itself as a “beacon” for migrants, pledges to obstruct federal deportation efforts, and offers generous shelter and support programs without adequate oversight, this is what happens. Criminals slip through the cracks, and law-abiding citizens are left to foot the bill—and, sometimes, deal with the fallout of serious crimes.
Leonardo Andujar Sanchez didn’t just slip into Massachusetts; he reportedly crossed the border illegally, acquired an ID through New York’s equally disastrous shelter system, and then set up shop in a Revere hotel-turned-shelter. From there, he allegedly built a criminal operation large enough to push hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of deadly narcotics onto Massachusetts streets—all while living on the taxpayer's dime.
And now Governor Healey, who not long ago was thumping her chest on MSNBC about how her state would “absolutely not” cooperate with Trump’s immigration enforcement plans, is suddenly calling for shelter inspections and demanding Congress act on border security. Oh, how the mighty rhetoric crumbles when reality kicks down the door with fentanyl and an AR-15 in hand.
Healey insists the blame lies with the “broken federal immigration system.” It’s a convenient scapegoat, but let’s not forget that her own policies have actively undermined federal efforts to secure the border. Just months ago, she vowed to use “every tool in the toolbox” to resist Trump’s mass deportation plans. Now she’s scrambling to inspect shelters and plug holes in a sieve of her own making.
Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar,” put it bluntly: “If they don’t want to help us, then get the hell out of the way, we’re going to do it.” That’s exactly the kind of no-nonsense leadership that’s been missing from sanctuary state governors like Healey, who seem more concerned with virtue-signaling on cable news than protecting their own citizens.
And let’s not overlook the broader consequences of this mess. Massachusetts has been overwhelmed by the surge in migrants arriving from the southern border. Shelters are at capacity, public resources are stretched thin, and Healey herself was forced to prioritize state residents over migrants in shelter programs—a quiet admission that the system isn’t sustainable. But even with these restrictions, dangerous individuals are still slipping through, and now taxpayers are paying for their housing while they allegedly run drug and gun operations out of budget hotels.
The political whiplash is almost comical. Healey spent years building her brand as a progressive champion, boldly resisting Trump’s immigration enforcement and throwing open the doors of her state to anyone who could get across the border. But when the inevitable consequences came knocking—when fentanyl, firearms, and criminal activity seeped into her own backyard—she pivoted to soundbites about the “broken federal system.”
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: You can’t have it both ways. You can’t obstruct federal immigration enforcement, declare your state a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, and then act shocked when criminals exploit the system you’ve created. Governor Healey’s indignation feels less like genuine outrage and more like the exasperation of someone who’s realized too late that political posturing doesn’t make for sound policy.
Massachusetts voters should take note. This isn’t just about one bad actor caught in a Revere hotel. This is about a systemic failure—a failure rooted in policy decisions that prioritized political brownie points over public safety.