Northeast
Democrats in this blue state double down on protecting criminal migrants. For one silly reason
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During the last four years, Massachusetts has been overwhelmed by the migrant surge coming across the southern border. Last year, Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency, citing the rapid increase in migrant families seeking shelter and the state’s inability to adequately accommodate them.
Before the November 5th election, Healey was sending top deputies to the southern border to deliver a message that Massachusetts had no more vacancies. Healey, along with eight other Democratic governors, pleaded for federal action, including asking for funding to support states that had spent billions of dollars on housing and feeding the migrants.
Massachusetts was hit so hard democratic lawmakers condemned Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey for opposing bipartisan immigration reform. Two years of unrelenting waves of migrants continue to cost Massachusetts taxpayers between $1 and $2 billion annually – with no end in sight. Gov. Healey, herself, took aim at the Biden/Harris administration, stating: “This is not a problem that Massachusetts created.”
BLUE STATE FACES SPIKE IN MIGRANT SEX CRIMES AS TOP CITY PLEDGES RESISTANCE TO TRUMP DEPORTATIONS
Yet when relief is being offered, Massachusetts Democrats are not only rejecting that relief, but they’re also pledging to fight it to protect illegal migrants, even ones accused of abhorrent crimes, at the expense of taxpayers and public safety.
Why? Because it involves President Trump. Democrats fighting Trump, when it comes to reasonable common-sense deportations, will prove short-sighted, even in blue Massachusetts. Without question, Trump’s position on illegal immigration played a major role in why Trump improved his standing with voters in practically every city and town across Massachusetts.
Ignoring those results, after President Trump won, Healey restated her order that the State Police stand down if ICE asks for cooperation in apprehending violent migrants. According to Healey, she intends to use “every tool in the toolbox” to “protect” migrants from any deportation efforts made by the Trump administration.
Additionally, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu vowed to defy federal mass deportation efforts. And just last week, the Boston City Council voted unanimously to reaffirm its status as a sanctuary city. Ironically, the following day, the DOJ charged twenty-five people in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Nineteen targets were arrested in an ICE/DEA operation. Fourteen of the nineteen migrants are illegal. Ten of those illegal migrants were arrested in Boston the day after the 13-0 vote, affirming Boston’s sanctuary status. You literally, can’t make this stuff up.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu vowed to defy federal mass deportation efforts. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)
In November 2024, ICE arrested three individuals in Massachusetts on multiple charges related to child rape. Authorities also arrested a Brazilian national who allegedly raped a young woman behind a bar in Plymouth. Earlier this year, another migrant was arrested at the Chelmsford shelter on charges of raping a 12-year-old girl and just last year, ICE officials on Cape Cod located and arrested a Venezuelan national on the run from murder charges. When a disabled 15-year-old girl was raped by an illegal migrant, Gov. Healey disgracefully declared, “Things will happen.” In Massachusetts, it’s happening way too much.
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Last week, Jon Fetherston, a former director at a migrant shelter, explained that in Massachusetts, undocumented migrants, including those accused of child rape, receive food stamps and government health insurance. The migrants are all given three meals a day from catering companies and provided essential items such as toiletries, diapers, strollers and baby wipes. Migrants also received state-paid, same-day dry cleaning and taxpayer-funded Uber rides to appointments when needed.
He also exposed incidents of widespread violence, child sexual assault, and rape at shelters throughout the state, including an incident where a father impregnated his own 14-year-old daughter. Instead of alerting ICE and detaining him in a Middlesex County jail, authorities shipped this heinous individual to neighboring Worcester County, where he was placed in another taxpayer-funded shelter. Fetherston stated that a 16-year-old female student was also raped multiple times inside the shelter by a 29-year-old illegal migrant.
Gov. Healey has a crisis on her hands. More than 300 “serious incidents” have been recorded at state-run migrant facilities this year, but officials refuse to provide further details about why police or firefighters responded and what crimes may have occurred. Calls for police and emergency services to hotels and shelters housing migrants have skyrocketed.
And yet the elected leaders of Massachusetts are vowing to protect such violent criminals from being lawfully deported. By opposing Trump at every turn and burying their heads in the sand, Massachusetts Democrats like Healy, Warren and Wu have virtually guaranteed we will be left alone to clean up – and pay for – a mess created by them and their fellow Democrats. If those actions lead to attempts to disperse migrants and offer monthly stipends to hide them from ICE, Gov. Healey and her co-conspirators could be guilty of violating Title 8, U.S.C. § 1324(a) of federal law (harboring or concealing an illegal alien).
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey pauses to look at the Army cots set up on the gym floor as State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex. (Getty Images)
Massachusetts was among one of the Democratic-leaning states that shifted to the right this year; in Bristol County, a hub of working-class immigrants for decades, Trump nearly defeated Harris and outright won the city of Fall River, the first time a Republican has done so in roughly 100 years.
The impact of illegal immigration in Massachusetts has no party affiliation and even traditional blue state voters realize something must change. Gov. Healey’s approval rating has slipped below 50%, indicating that virtue-signaling alone won’t guarantee her a second term in 2026.
If Massachusetts Democrats continue to sacrifice public safety, taxpayers’ dollars and commonsense for their political party’s agenda, they may see voters elect Republicans to do the job instead.
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Boston, MA
Red Sox reliever ‘fired up’ to join Team USA after dominant start to spring
FORT MYERS, Fla. — It’s hard to imagine Garrett Whitlock’s spring getting off to a better start. The Red Sox right-hander made it three straight scoreless outings through the first week of games Saturday by sending down the Minnesota Twins 1-2-3 in the third during the club’s eventual 13-8 win.
Now, Whitlock will get ready to join Team USA ahead of the World Baseball Classic.
“I’m stoked. I’ve been jittery the past two days, like, ‘Oh man it’s almost here,’” Whitlock said. “Now I’ve got to go home, do some laundry and do some packing.”
Whitlock and teammate Roman Anthony will fly to Arizona on Sunday to join the rest of the American squad, which features Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and many more of the game’s biggest stars. Team USA will play exhibitions against the Giants and Rockies this week before opening their tournament run in Houston against Brazil on Friday.
Among those Whitlock expects to be in Houston for the tournament is his father, Larry Whitlock, a veteran who saw combat during the Vietnam War. Whitlock said getting to represent his country is an amazing honor, and that sharing the news with his father that he’d been selected to the team last fall was an incredible moment for the family.
“I called him and I was just like, ‘Hey I want you to hear this from me before you hear it from anyone else, as a vet, I’m just so honored that I get to represent this country for baseball,’ and he kind of sobbed up and everything,” Whitlock said. “It was a very cool moment for me and him.”
“I’m actually the only male in my family not to serve in the military,” Whitlock continued. “My dad, my uncle, my brother, my granddad on both sides, so it’s a really truly special thing that’s close to my heart and that’s why it’s such an honor for me. Forget the stage and everything else, just to represent the country, obviously I’ll never be able to sacrifice like so many of our service members do, but the chance that we can hopefully bring them some joy in anything, it brings tears to my eyes thinking about it.”
To prepare for the tournament, Whitlock said he began his ramp up earlier than normal, throwing several live batting practices over the offseason when he’d typically wait until camp. The work was clearly evident through the first week of games, as Whitlock allowed just one hit in three innings with no walks and two strikeouts in his three Grapefruit League outings.
The next time he appears in a game the stakes will be a little bit higher, but if all goes according to plan, Whitlock won’t be back with the Red Sox for a while.
“It was funny, (USA manager Mark DeRosa) texted us like three days ago and he’s like, ‘Hey y’all better be packing for 18 days because we aren’t doing anything less.’ Kind of fired the guys up,” Whitlock said. “So I’m going to go home and you don’t realize how long 18 days is until you try to pack for it.”
Gray shaky in debut
Sonny Gray made his first start in a Red Sox uniform and wasn’t sharp, walking the first batter he faced on four pitches before ultimately allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings. He threw 31 pitches, 13 for strikes, and allowed a solo home run to James Outman to lead off the second.
“I don’t like throwing as many balls as I did,” Gray said. “You walk the first hitter, four pitches, you know you’re not setting yourself up for success there.”
Gray escaped a potentially problematic first inning unscathed when he drew a 6-4-3 double play turned by Trevor Story and Nick Sogard to escape a bases-loaded jam. But after giving up the solo home run in the second, he allowed a single and was lifted after drawing a groundout to end his day.
Early solid again
Connelly Early took the mound in the top of the fourth for what was effectively his second “start” of the spring, and the rookie left-hander performed well again, throwing 2 2/3 innings while allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Early posted a 1-2-3 fourth, allowed a single and an RBI double in the fifth and gave up a single before finishing his outing with back-to-back strikeouts in the sixth. The inherited runner later came around to score, giving Early the second earned run, but the lefty still threw 27 of his 39 pitches for strikes and topped out at 97.1 mph on the radar gun.
“I’m just trying to keep building the workload and I want to hold the velo going into all three innings,” Early said. “I thought I did a pretty good job with that.”
Duran homers twice
Jarren Duran has been red hot over the first week of games, and Saturday he came through again by launching two more home runs, including a two-run shot in the first inning for the second straight day.
Duran went deep to right-center field, crushing a 2-2 fastball from Twins starter Taj Bradley 401 feet for the two-run shot. He followed that up with another two-run bomb off Kendry Rojas in the fourth inning, this one going 409 feet.
The outfielder finished 2 for 2 with the two homers, four RBI, a walk and three runs scored. Duran is now batting .583 with a 2.167 OPS for the spring.
Roman Anthony and Carlos Narvaez each went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Trevor Story went 1 for 3 with a triple and Max Ferguson hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.
Coming up next
The Red Sox are now 5-3 in Grapefruit League and 3-0 against the Twins. Ranger Suarez will take the mound for the second time this spring on Sunday when the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles. Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten, Wyatt Olds, Tayron Guerrero and Devin Sweet are all scheduled to pitch as well.
Pittsburg, PA
Oneil Cruz Powers Pirates Past Astros
PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz needs to have a great season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 and his strong Spring Training continued in their most recent victory.
Cruz hit a three-run home run off of Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jayden Murray in the top of the fifth inning, playing a big role in the 5-2 victory at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla.
He waited on a changeup on the second pitch, 85.1 mph over the middle of the plate and sent it 106.4 mph off the bat and 368 feet, scoring both left fielder Billy Cook and third baseman Alika Williams with two outs.
That marks the first home run for Cruz in the Grapefruit League, who has had a great Spring Training so far, slashing .538/.600/.846 for an OPS of 1.446 in five games, with seven hits in 13 at-bats.
Pittsburgh got the win after the top of the sixth inning, after a rain delay ended the game.
Pirates Rookie Pitchers Have Up-And-Down Showing vs. Astros
Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft made his second start for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and dominated vs. the Astros.
Ashcraft threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk, while posting two strikeouts for Pittsburgh.
Former Pirates pitcher, right-handed starter Mike Burrows, countered Ashcraft for the Astros. He threw three scoreless innings himself, allowed one hit and a walk and posted four strikeouts.
The Pirates traded Burrows to the Houston Astros in the three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 19, that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed relief pitcher Mason Montgomery.
Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler made his second appearance for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and threw two innings.
Chandler immediately loaded the bases, walking both third baseman Carlos Correa and first baseman Christian Walker, then giving up a single to center fielder Cam Smith.
He came back and struckout right fielder Taylor Trammell and got left fielder Zach Dezenzo to pop out, but gave up a single to second baseman Brice Matthews and a run to the Astros, before ending the inning with a strikeout.
Chandler also gave up a solo home run to Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, on a slider down in the zone.
He finished his outing with three hits, three walks and two earned runs allowed over 1.1 innings pitched, before left-handed pitcher Derek Diamond got the last two outs of the inning.
Chandler struggled in his first Spring Training start vs. the New York Yankees at LECOM Park in Bradenton on Feb. 23, where he allowed four earned runs over 1.2 innings of work.
The Pirates will need better showings from Chandler, who should serve as a key piece of their starting rotation in 2026.
Other Important Notes from Pirates Victory
The Pirates added two runs in the top of the sixth inning, as Cook hit a single that scored second baseman Nick Yorke and then Williams singled, scoring Cook to make it a 5-2 ball game.
Cook had just one hit in eight at-bats coming into this game and scored twice in the victory, as he walked before the Cruz home run.
Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna led the Pirates with two hits, a good sign for them, as they’ll rely on him greatly for his power and hitting in 2026.
The Pirates are now 7-2 in the Grapefruit League and tied with the Yankees for the top of the standings.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
Connecticut
Pedestrian killed after being struck by Amtrak train
An investigation is ongoing in Stonington after a person was fatally struck by an Amtrak train Saturday morning, according to Stonington police.
Police were notified around 11:25 a.m. by Amtrak police that a pedestrian was struck by a train between the Route 1 overpass and the Prospect Street and Palmer Street railroad crossing.
When crews arrived, they pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
The train involved is stopped while Amtrak police conduct their investigation and ask the public to avoid the area at this time.
Authorities say there is no threat to the public.
No further details were released.
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