Highlights

•  The state ranks 4th highest in the nation for net international illegal migration with 300,000 to 500,000 migrants projected by 2025
• The state’s population remains steady since illegal immigrants balance out high domestic outmigration and low birth rates.
• Costs stemming from guaranteed access to housing and welfare programs for undocumented individuals have surpassed $1 billion, with an estimated additional $1.8 billion over the next two years
• SNAP, which has increased by 40% to over 1.1 million currently with fraud exceeding the Federally allowed limit meaning taxpayers may need to share on these costs
• Over $97 million allocated to the HomeBASE program
• Illegal aliens impose a cost to taxpayers of between $165,000 and $190,000 annually
• Gov. Healy’s actions have made Massachusetts the equivalent of a sanctuary state
  • Gov Healey has cultivated and expanded the support for International Migrants
    • She has repeatedly appropriated millions for migrant support including shelter, food, education and medical
    • She has intensified the Emergency Housing & Shelter System Management in Massachusetts since 2023
    • Enhanced their access to the workforce and allowed undocumented residents to obtain driver’s licenses ( and voting registration)
    • Submission of FY2026 appropriations totaling approximately $328 million for the indigent-defense system to provide legal support for migrants and a $780,000 immigrant legal-services grant awarded in 2023
• M. Minogue does not believe Massachusetts should be a sanctuary state;
  • He criticizes spending on illegal immigrants
  • opposes providing illegal immigrants with free Right to Shelter, Medicaid, or benefits, arguing it costs taxpayers over $4 billion
  • He opposes granting free Right to Shelter to illegal immigrants
  • He emphasizes emphasize ending state-funded benefits/right-to-shelter
  • He will cooperate fully with federal law enforcement
  • He supports upholding the rule of law and providing necessary legal resources for law enforcement

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Situation Analysis

Massachusetts ranks fourth in the U.S. for net international migration[1], with an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 illegal migrants[2] contributing significantly to population growth annually[3].  This influx is pivotal, as the state’s population faces decline from high domestic outmigration and low birth rates.  Immigrants, making up about 25% of the labor force, require approximately 60,000 newcomers annually to maintain a workforce balance. State policies, akin to sanctuary status, have attracted undocumented immigrants, raising taxpayer concerns over financial burdens due to guaranteed access to welfare programs, costing over $1 billion to date.  It has been found that in Massachusetts, 44% of US Voter Verifications Have NO MATCH at Social Security Administration[4].

Our sanctuary status has made the state a primary destination for undocumented immigrants, generating concerns about taxpayer financial burdens and with laws that limit cooperation with ICE[5]. Guaranteed access to housing, welfare programs, health coverage, and other benefits regardless of immigration status, has cost more than $1 billion to date on the emergency shelter system, with an anticipated additional expenditure of $1.8 billion over the next two years.   As of now, about 355,000 illegal migrants reside in the state, with significant costs projected for programs like Medicaid and SNAP. A 2017 study indicates illegal aliens impose a lifetime net fiscal cost of approximately $68,000 on taxpayers[6]. In Massachusetts, spending related to the migrant crisis is projected to reach between $165,000 and $190,000 per immigrant family annually, culminating in overall expenditures of around $1 billion per year Massachusetts spends nearly $30 billion on welfare, and its SNAP error rate stands at 14.1%, the highest in New England and exceeding the Federal required minimum of 6%. Recent federal regulations require states with excessive error rates to share costs, placing further financial strain on Massachusetts taxpayers.  Current fiscal issues include over $97 million allocated to the HomeBASE program in the fiscal year[7] and questionable emergency orders circumventing standard bidding processes, potentially benefiting affiliated political donors.

Gov. Healey Positions

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s administration has implemented extensive measures to support and protect immigrant populations, especially following a State of Emergency declared in August 2023.  She has intensified the Emergency Housing & Shelter System Management in Massachusetts in response to a surge of migrant families. Measures include expanding shelter capacity, activating the National Guard for logistics and support, and securing emergency funding for the shelter system and local aid and allocating emergency funding, with costs exceeding $400-$500 million.  She has confiscated facilities such as the Melina A. Cass recreational Complex in Roxbury to house migrants.  Beginning in 2023, the Governor started using the Homebase program for migrants with significant acceleration in 2023-2024

 Workforce access through partnerships for work authorization and job training has increased, while the Work and Family Mobility Act allows undocumented residents to obtain driver’s licenses. The administration is suing the Trump administration in order to Shield CDL Records and protect illegal alien truck drivers. She signed an executive order limiting state involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Additionally, basic services like food assistance and healthcare access have been enhanced, and the state is advocating for federal reform in immigration management. The administration has also proposed significant funding for legal support to protect migrants from deportation.

The Governor has submitted three major FY2026 appropriations total about $328 million for the Massachusetts indigent-defense system, designed to provide legal support and protect migrants from deportation.   There was also a separate $780,000 immigrant legal-services grant program awarded by Attorney General Andrea Campbell in 2023. 

Mike Minogue Position

Mike Minogue believes that the fundamental role of the governor is to keep our citizens safe and uphold the law. The system is overwhelmed by spending on illegal immigrants for housing, healthcare, and education, especially while our citizens are struggling to pay the bills. Illegal immigrants should not be provided free Right to Shelter, Medicaid, or benefits, which cost taxpayers over $4 billion.

He opposes providing benefits such as Right to Shelter to illegal immigrants and is against Massachusetts becoming a sanctuary state. Minogue calls for the removal of criminal illegal immigrants and emphasizes collaboration with federal authorities. He supports empowering law enforcement, advocating for minimum bail for violent offenders, and ensuring legal resources for police to maintain community safety.  Mike will be committed to the rule of law and ensure our men and women in law enforcement have the legal resources needed to keep our communities safe.

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[1] UMass Donahue Institute, Massachusetts Population Estimates Program, July 2025

[2] Pew Research Center

[3] Numbers for immigrant population The Ripple Effect: How the TPS Ruling Exposes Massachusetts’ Labor Force, Dependence on Immigration, Pioneer Institute  July 30 2026

[4] The Gateway Pundit,  Jim Hoft. 2/12/26

[5] Center for Immigration Studies:  Sanctuary Cities, Counties, and States  June 29, 2026

[6] New Boston Post, July 14 2026

[7] Mass Fiscal , “The Welfare State: How Massachusetts’s Welfare Programs Have Grown Out-of-Control,”