Thread: Massachusetts - Bay State's absurd - illegals get public housing

May 3, 2012 Thursday
Sentinel & Enterprise
LexisNexis

It's hard to imagine that Massachusetts allows illegal immigrants the same rights to public housing that it does U.S. veterans, the elderly, disabled and other citizens.

What a sham(e).

When The Sun of Lowell first heard a complaint from a Lowell resident who said he was on a public housing waiting list -- possibly behind illegal immigrants -- we didn't believe it was true.

Sun and Sentinel & Enterprise Statehouse reporter Chris Camire was assigned to investigate the law and ... wow ... it's true: Illegal immigrants are eligible for Massachusetts public housing -- no questions asked.

As Camire reported Sunday, there are different rules regulating who gets into federally subsidized public housing and the state equivalent. Applicants for the former are required to show proof of citizenship or legal immigration status to local housing authorities, yet for the latter they do not have to present any proof.

Here's the equation: Federal + state = more inconsistency, confusion, unfairness and taxpayer losses.

It is incredible that Massachusetts, liberal as it is, would let lawbreakers get public housing ahead of war veterans and seniors who've worked all their lives and paid taxes.

Appalling is a better word.

There are about 46,500 state-subsidized public housing units in Massachusetts and every one of them is ripe for "abuse" under the present system.

The state Legislature tried to correct this injustice in 2010, but the House of Representatives, at the behest of Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, shot it down.

Liberals referred to a 25-year old federal court decision as their guide, saying illegal immigrants have privacy rights and shouldn't face discrimination. At least that's their interpretation. Well, it's time to get a clear read on a law that favors noncitizens at the expense of Americans.

Attorney General Martha Coakley must right this wrong.

How can the federal government ask applicants to show proof of citizenship for public housing yet the state's interpretation of the same law is so different? Do you think the fix is in? In fact, wasn't it President Obama's aunt, Zeituni Onyango, who was granted U.S. asylum in September 2010 after it was disclosed that she was an illegal immigrant living in Boston public housing?

Only in Massachusetts -- again.

"It's a crazy situation where you have someone who is in the country illegally and they're getting housing ahead of American citizens," Sen. Robert Hedlund, R-Weymouth, told us.

Hedlund has authored a bill that would give U.S. citizens and legal immigrants preference for all public housing over those here illegally.

The Greater Lowell and North Central Massachusetts' Statehouse delegations must get behind Hedlund's effort with all due diligence. By year's end, 100,000 U.S. troops will return home from wars overseas and some might need a temporary boost to re-start their lives. Is it fair they end up on the streets while a lawbreaking noncitizen gets a comfortable bed on the public's dime?

Absolutely not.

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Makes me sick when I see everything illegals get away with.