MassFiscal: ‘Sanctuary State’ bill a bad idea for Mass.

Editor’s note: The following letter was sent in response to Rep. Bill Galvin’s guest column that appeared in the December 28 edition of the Canton Citizen.

Dear Editor:

Legislative plans to make Massachusetts a Sanctuary State are gaining ground. State Representative William Galvin (D-Canton) is a co-sponsor of a bill currently making its way through the State House. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is bringing attention to this bad idea that would otherwise be hidden in the halls of the State House. As a son of a Mexican immigrant, I have a unique perspective on issues pertaining to immigration as first-generation immigrants shaped my life. Sanctuary for illegal immigrants is not a solution for our illegal immigration problems — not for immigrants or our government.

According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform’s latest available numbers from 2010, illegal immigration costs Massachusetts taxpayers $1.8 billion annually. This number was calculated after accounting for the $66 million they contribute in taxes. This cost comes from programs provided like education, health care, justice and law enforcement, public assistance, and other general government services. If the hands of law enforcement are tied with a Sanctuary State law, that number will soar. Our polling shows that most Massachusetts residents are pro-legal immigration but anti-sanctuary state. Folks are smarter than the legislature gives them credit for because they see the difference between good policy and bad.

The Sanctuary State bill co-sponsored by Rep. Galvin would remove the local control option for towns and cities. This would mean that all Massachusetts cities and towns would be forced to adopt sanctuary status, rather than choosing to do so at the local level. Once again, Beacon Hill would be dictating what is best for your town rather than leaving it in the hands of the people and local town governments.

MassFiscal is bringing attention to the controversial stance of co-sponsors of the Sanctuary State bills. You may have recently seen one of our educational fliers in your mailbox. Our goal is to educate members of the community about their extreme positions since they tend to make it incredibly difficult for you to do so on your own. With so many urgent budget priorities, and the nation’s highest debt-per capita, Massachusetts taxpayers cannot afford to support the ever-increasing burden from illegal immigration.

Please contact Rep. Galvin and urge him to change his view on making Massachusetts a sanctuary state.

Paul Diego Craney

Mass. Fiscal Alliance spokesperson

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=38053

Posted by Canton Citizen on Jan 27 2018. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.