What benefits can migrants to Massachusetts expect?

Massachusetts has seen a surge in the number of migrants arriving from other countries over the past year, a situation that is straining state resources and will cost taxpayers more than $1 billion in each of the next few fiscal years.

Families who arrived through the federal immigration system, whether through sponsorship or humanitarian parole programs, are assessed for federal eligibility for a range of benefits, including food stamps, supplemental nutrition, cash assistance and assistance for elderly or disabled children.

Undocumented immigrants who entered the country illegally are not eligible for government benefits such as the federal protection system or government-sponsored assistance programs.

Every family who has entered the United States legally must go through an application process and there are various eligibility requirements, including income level, a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services told the Herald in a statement.

“Families in (emergency shelters) are also connected to work permit services so they can transition into jobs and exit the shelter system as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said.

Jeff Thielman, president and CEO of the International Institute of New England, a resettlement agency that works primarily with Haitians, said his organization believes that if the state invests “some support” in arriving refugees and immigrants, they will be removed more quickly would deduct benefits.

“The people we see come here, they’re eager and hungry to work, and once they get a little support, they’re ready to go. You are employed and want to work. They came here to work and contribute,” he said.

According to the Healey government, as of October 3, just over 3,600 of the 7,500 families in state accommodation had arrived as migrants, refugees or asylum seekers.

State budget writers reported that $858 million was spent on the state’s shelter system in fiscal year 2024 and that costs are expected to exceed $1 billion in fiscal year 2025.