♪ >> WELCOME TO BASIC BLACK.

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I AM SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER WITH WGBH NEW CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AND YOUR HOST.

TONIGHT, THE LATEST ON THE NEW MIGRANTS LIVING HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

REPORTS REVEAL THE STRAIN TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR MIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANTS IS JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE FROM HEALTH CARE, TO FOOD, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HOUSING.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, STATE LAWMAKERS APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TEMPORARY SHELTERS AFTER SPACE WAS NEAR CAPACITY.

AS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES COME TO THE AREA TO FLEE CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE AND GEOPOLITICS, WHAT ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO EASE HOUSING PLACEMENT?

IS THE STATE'’S RIGHT TO SHELTER LIVING UP TO ITS PROMISE?

JOINING US TO DISCUSS, THE EXHIBIT OF DIRECTOR FOR CIVIL RIGHTS BOSTON.

THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IMMIGRANT FAMILY SERVICES INSTITUTE, USA.

A TRIAGE TEAM MANAGER IN CHELSEA.

AND A SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, NEW YORK COALITION.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

FIRST QUESTION IS THE QUESTION EVERYONE IS WONDERING, NEAR CAPACITY OF THE STATE LAWMAKERS STEPPED IN AFTER THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE SUED FOR THE RIGHT TO SHELTER, TO LIVE UP TO THE PROMISE OF THE RIGHT TO SHELTER.

BUT WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THIS SITUATION?

YOU STILL HAVE FAMILIES COMING IN, BOTH MIGRANTS AND THOSE WHO ARE MASSACHUSETTS AREA RESIDENTS, SOME U.S. CITIZENS.

HOW IS THIS WORKING OUT?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE SITUATION UNDERGROUND IS COMPLEX, BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE CONCURRENT AND OVERLAPPING CRISIS SURROUNDING HOUSING UNAVAILABILITY TO HOUSING SCARCITY WITH THE MIGRANT CRISIS.

THESE TWO THINGS ARE BLENDING AND MERGING ON THE GROUND.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN ACUTE NEED FOR HOUSING NOT JUST FOR U.S. CITIZENS AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, BUT FOR NEW TIME FAMILIES ARRIVING.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THIS NOT AS JUST SOMETHING THE STATE NEEDS TO PROVIDE AND THAT IS A DRAIN, THIS IS AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

THAT GETS LOST IN MUCH OF THE DISCUSSION.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN ARE EAGER TO WORK.

WE ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE HELP WANTED SIGNS IN SHOPS AND BUSINESSES.

WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS A LOT MORE INTERSECTIONALLY, AND THINK ABOUT IT AS WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD?

AND YES, RIGHT NOW WE DO NEED MORE HOUSING, MORE RESOURCES, MORE SUPPORT FOR THESE FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BUT THIS COULD VERY WELL PAY BACK DIVIDENDS IN THE LONG TERM.

>> WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT FOLKS ARE SEEING?

WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS DRIVING MIGRANTS HERE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE, VIOLENCE AND SO FORTH.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF WHO IS ARRIVING IN THE STATE?

AND ARE THEY BEING PROVIDED WHAT THEY NEED, GIVEN WHAT IVAN WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS, YOU ALSO HAVE A MEDICAL CRISIS WHERE FOLKS ARE GOING INTO HOSPITALS, BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE SOME DOCTORS SAY THIS IS OVERCAPACITY.

YOU ALSO HAVE A SITUATION OF CLOTHING, THINGS OF THAT SORT.

HOW ARE THE BASIC NEEDS BEING TAKEN CARE OF IN THE CONTEXT OF FINITE RESOURCES?

>> TO GO OFF OF WHAT IVAN WAS SAAYING -- WAS SAYING, IN BOSTON WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS WELL.

A LOT OF THE TIME YOU MIGHT SEE THAT A LOT OF THESE MIGRANTS COME WITH MEDICAL ISSUES.

I HAD A FAMILY RECENTLY FROM VENEZUELA COME IN WITH A SON WHO HAD MYOPIC.

HE WAS WEARING THE SAME PAPER OF CONTACTS FOR 30 DAYS WHEN HE CAME INTO MY -- PAIR OF CONTACTS FOR 30 DAYS WHEN HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE.

THIS FAMILY WAS PLACED IN A HOTEL JUST FOR A FEW NIGHTS, AND THE BEST WE COULD OFFER THEM WAS A WARMING SHELTER AT THE END OF THEIR STAY.

AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS HOUSING CRISIS THESE MEDICAL ISSUES ARE COMPOUNDING ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY NOW OF THE GOVERNMENT WHO HAS BEEN SEEING THESE ISSUES HAPPENING FOR SO LONG TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR LACK OF ACTION IN YEARS PAST.

>> THE WAY A LOT OF THIS HAS ALSO BEEN FRAMED IS THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING IN A LARGE NUMBER SIMPLY TO WORK.

OBVIOUSLY WORK PERMITS ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.

FOLKS ARE ALSO SEEKING REFUGEE STATUS.

YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE SEEKING REFUGEE STATUS.

HAITI RIGHT NOW IS AT THE WORST CRISIS PERHAPS WE HAVE SEEN IN YEARS.

VENEZUELA IS FACING A MASSIVE CRISIS LEADING TO AN OUTFLOW.

YOU STILL HAVE AN ONGOING CRISIS IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

TALK ABOUT THE REFUGEE STATUS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

IS IT BEING HONORED AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST?

>> ONE THING I ALWAYS SAY, IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU SEE THE PROBLEM.

YOUR PERSPECTIVE DETERMINES EXACTLY THE ACTION YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE.

IF YOU SEE THOSE COMING HERE AS A BURDEN, YOU ARE GOING TO PUT YOURSELF IN THIS LITTLE COCOON WHERE YOU SAY I DON'’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP THEM.

BUT IF YOU SEE THEM FIRST AS PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING REFUGE AND WHO ARE COMING HERE NOT ONLY TO SEEK REFUGE BUT MAKE US BETTER AND STRONGER.

I ALWAYS SAY REFUGEES MAKE US STRONGER AND BETTER.

WE ARE THE COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS.

WE SHOULD SEE THEM AS ASSETS.

WE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WELCOME THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE LEGAL STATUS THEY NEED.

YOU ARE IN A SYSTEM WHERE YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF DUTIES COMPARED WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO GET STATUS, IT IS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE, IMMIGRATION JUDGES.

WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH IMMIGRATION JUDGES, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH LAWYERS, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PARALEGALS.

STILL YOU ARE ASKING THEM TO GO THROUGH SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THEY CAN REALLY GET SOME TYPE OF STATUS.

WE ARE LIVING IN A SITUATION WHERE EVERYTHING IS UPSIDE DOWN.

AS OF RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO BE THINKING CREATIVELY TO UP THE RETURN OUR INVESTMENT.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED.

THE U.S.

NEEDS THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A CRISIS WHERE ALL SECTORS ARE SUFFERING.

THEY DON'’T HAVE ENOUGH WORKERS, NOT ENOUGH NURSES, NOT ENOUGH DRIVERS, NOT ENOUGH ANYTHING.

HERE, THEY ARE COMING TO YOU.

IF YOU ARE SMART, YOU WILL QUICKLY INVEST IN THEM SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

>> PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN REFUGEES AND THOSE WHO ARE COMING HERE BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE AND GEOPOLITICAL CONFLICTS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER.

STEPHANIE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT DIFFERENCE IS PLAYING OUT IN MIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS?

AND IN COURTS, IF YOU WILL?

YOU HEAR PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF TOLERATIONS FOR REFUGEES, BUT THEY CERTAINLY DIFFERENTIATE THOSE WHO ARE SAID TO BE SEEKING WORK PERMITS ONLY AND ARE ESCAPING POVERTY AS OPPOSED TO CONFLICT.

>> A LOT OF THE FAMILIES I HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND YEARS ARE REALLY COMING HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE.

OFTEN THEY ARE FLEEING GANG VIOLENCE, OFTEN THEY ARE FLEEING DISCRIMINATION.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IF YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE YOUR BABY AND FAMILY THROUGH THE JUNGLE FOR DAYS, WHAT IS BEHIND YOU IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.

THERE IS A COMPLEX LEVEL OF ISSUES THAT MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE COMING IN.

MANY ARE COMING WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT STATUSES.

THEY MIGHT BE SEEKING ASYLUM, REFUGEE STATUS.

I THINK MANY OF THEM ARE STILL UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING TO NAVIGATE THIS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX PROCESS ON THEIR OWN.

THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS.

MANY OF THESE FAMILIES DON'’T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS.

I THINK THAT WILL REALLY IMPACT HOW THIS IS VIEWED IN THE MEDIA.

WE HAVE SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE THAT ENTERED SOME WAY BUT NOT OTHERS, OR SOME FAMILIES BUT NOT OTHERS.

THE LARGEST POPULATION WE ARE SEEING NOW IS HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS, BUT MANY ARE COMING ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AS WELL, SEEKING A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LEGAL STATUS AS.

-- STATUSES.

THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH OUR LEGAL SYSTEM.

IT IS JUST SO CONVOLUTED THAT MANY DON'’T KNOW WHERE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

>> MASSACHUSETTS OF COURSE IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THOSE STATES THAT IS MORE OR LESS A HAVEN FOR MIGRANTS, COMPARED TO OTHER STATES FOR EXAMPLE.

YOU DON'’T SEE GOVERNOR HALEY PUTTING PEOPLE ON BUSES TO GO ANYWHERE.

OBVIOUSLY I AM REFERRING TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TEXAS, WHERE THERE IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT VIEW OF EMIGRATION.

-- OF IMMIGRATION.

PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY ARE APPARENTLY COMING ALONG THE MORTAR, AND THEY ARE ARRIVING AT PLACES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS.

IS IT FAIR IN YOUR VIEW TO MAKE THAT COMPARISON AS I AM MAKING IT?

DOES TEXAS IN FACT HAVE A GREATER BURDEN THAN A MASSACHUSETTS?

SHOULD WE BE SOME PATHETIC TO -- WE BE SYMPATHETIC TO THAT?

>> AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, MANY OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM ARE IN COMPLETE DISTRESS AND COLLAPSE, LIKE HAITI AND VENEZUELA.

I THINK WE GO DOWN A ROAD THAT WE DON'’T THIS IS EARLY WANT TO GO IN WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT WHO ARE SYMPATHETIC IMMIGRANTS VERSUS WHO ARE NOT.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE HAVE SEEN WHITER IMMIGRANTS TEND TO BE MORE WARMLY RECEIVED THAN PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> FROM THE UKRAINE, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> UKRAINE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.

THERE IS A WELCOME MAT FOR CERTAIN IMMIGRANTS.

FOR HAITI, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE LONG SUFFERED THE STIGMA OF HAVING DISEASE OR BEING UNDESIRABLE, THINGS THAT ARE INHERENTLY RACIST.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

NOW, ON ANOTHER POINT I WANT TO MAKE, WE ARE ASSUMING THAT THE FLOODGATES ARE OPEN AND THAT PEOPLE WILL JUST KEEP COMING.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

>> THAT IS THE WAY IT HAS BEEN PROMULGATED.

>> IT IS NOT TRUE.

IMMIGRATION COMES IN WAVES.

THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'’S LIVES AND MIGRATION PATTERNS.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW A PARTICULAR SPIKE.

THAT SPIKE DIDN'’T EXIST MAYBE A YEAR AGO, AND IT MIGHT NOT EXIST ONE YEAR FROM NOW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE REACTING AS IF THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL.

I DON'’T BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE.

EVEN IN A MATTER OF WEEKS, THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER COULD CHANGE.

THAT LEADS ME TO MY FINAL POINT, THE REASON WHY WE SEE THE CHAOS AND THE MESS IN STATES LIKE TEXAS IS PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, THE ABSENCE OF FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THE ABSENCE OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY.

IMMIGRANTS ARE UNDER FEDERAL JURISDICTION AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE ASSERTED ITSELF SO THAT WE DON'’T SEE BUSES COMING FROM TEXAS OR FLIGHTS BEING SENT FROM DESANTIS TO MARTHA'’S VINEYARD.

>> THAT IS WHY THIS TYPE OF ELUCIDATION IS SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THERE IS IN FACT A LARGE DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND THE REALITY.

THE REALITY IS SUCH THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE AN 18 POINT DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF TRUST ON IMMIGRATION THAN DEMOCRATS.

YOU ALSO HAVE A PRESIDENT, A FORMER PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, WHO HAS BASICALLY ADVANCED THE NOTION OF DETENTION CENTERS FOR IMMIGRANTS COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, IF IN FACT HE IS MADE PRESIDENT.

>> TRULY IT IS AN ATROCITY.

WE AS COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZERS AND ATTORNEYS NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT IS COMING.

HE HAS HAD FOR YEARS -- FOUR YEARS TO BETTER PLAN TO WAIVE TH -- YO UNDERSTAND THE WAY POLITICS MOVE, TO IMPLEMENT THESE INCREDIBLY RACIST PRACTICES.

I THINK THERE IS A GROWING CONCERN LEADING UP TO THE NEXT ELECTION, NOT JUST IN EMIGRANT COMMUNITIES BUT BY THOSE WHO SERVE THEM, AS TO HOW DO WE FIGHT BACK?

THERE ARE TEAMS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSTANTLY ON EDGE ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD MEAN.

I WAS REFLECTING EARLIER ABOUT BACK WHEN HE WAS ELECTED THE FIRST TIME, I WORKED AT A HOMELESS SHELTER AND THE ENTIRE MORNING I WAS FIELDING QUESTIONS FROM FAMILIES OF LIKE, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME, WHAT DO WE DO?

IT WAS SCARY FOR THEM, FOR US.

WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

WE NEED TO AS A SOCIETY REMEMBER WHERE WE WANT TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF HISTORY.

WE LOOK BACK AT THESE DETENTION CENTERS, CONCENTRATION CAMPS, WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU WANT TO PUT ON THEM, THAT HAVE OFTEN BEEN SPECIFIC AND DUE TO GEOPOLITICAL FIGHT OVER SOMETHING.

AND IT HARMS SO MANY FAMILIES AND SO MANY COMMUNITIES.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN BRING INNOVATION AND CAN BE AN ASSET TO OUR COMMONWEALTH.

WE HAVE BEEN A SPACE FOR THRIVING COMMUNITIES AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THAT AND TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW.

>> I'’M GOING TO ASK BOTH OF YOU MY HOWDY BASICALLY REFRAME IT?

WHAT MIGHT BE THOSE INNOVATIVE STEPS THAT CAN BE REACHED TO REFRAME THIS CONVERSATION SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT REACTING IN HERE TO THE NOTION OF MIGRATION AS OPPOSED TO UNDERSTANDING ITS ADVANTAGES?

>> IT IS WHO IS TELLING THE STORY.

THAT IS WHY SO OFTEN I FIND MYSELF IN FRONT OF A CAMERA, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL OUR STORIES.

WHEN YOU LET OTHERS TELL THE STORIES FOR US, THEY CAN PUT THE STORY THE WAY THEY FEEL.

BUT WHEN WE TELL THE TRUTH, WE SAID THE U.S. HAS A ROLE IN WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IT IS THIS LEVEL WHERE YOU THINK YOU CAN GO INTO THIS COUNTRY, AND THEN YOU ARE HERE TO STAY AND QUIETLY, ENJOYING YOURSELF, WHILE THOSE PEOPLE ARE DYING.

HOW EASY IS IT, THE SITUATION THEY ARE IN RIGHT NOW?

BECAUSE OF WHAT THE U.S. HAS DONE TO HAITI.

WE NEED TO TELL THE STORIES OF WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN HAITI.

WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG TEENS WITH GUNS?

WE DO NOT USE THEM.

YOU GO AND DESTROY, YOU PUT GUNS IN THE HANDS OF HUMAN PEOPLE, AND NOW YOU ARE PUSHING PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

AND NOW YOU'’RE TELLING ME, OH NO, WE WILL PUT THEM IN A DETENTION CENTER.

THAT IS A LEVEL OF IMPUNITY.

WE SHOULD ALL BE OUT THERE TO DENOUNCE IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT FAIR, IT IS NOT JUST.

WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE FLEEING AS HUMAN BEINGS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS SAY WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION, WE ALWAYS BELIEVE WE TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'’S LIVES, CHILDREN, WOMEN, MEN.

>> CROSSING BORDERS WITH DIFFICULTY.

THAT SAME QUESTION, THE POINT DR. GERALDE WAS JUST MAKING, WHAT IS THE STORY?

>> I THINK SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES SIMPLY DON'’T UNDERSTAND IS THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE COUNTRIES THAT WE COME FROM, THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE U.S.'’S INVOLVEMENT IN A LOT OF THESE COUNTRIES, AND MORE SO THE INVOLVEMENT TO DESTABILIZE THESE COUNTRIES, AND THE LASTING EFFECTS THEY HAVE HAD ON COUNTRIES OVER GENERATIONS, AND EHWHY THAT HAS LED TO THESE FAMILIES NEEDING TO FULLY TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, CENTRAL AMERICA.

>> LATIN AMERICA, HAITI.

A LOT OF THESE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RESOURCES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A TARGET FOR COUNTRIES THAT DON'’T THIS EARLY PRODUCE THOSE RESOURCES NATURALLY.

OIL, MINERALS, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

>> PERHAPS THE STORY OF INDIVIDUALS, THAT IS A BETTER WAY TO HUMANIZE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FAMILIES.

I CANNOT IMAGINE GOING THROUGH A JUNGLE IN PANAMA AND CROSSING SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO REACH THE GUATEMALAN-MEXICAN BORDER, AND FROM THERE TO GET TO THE MEXICAN BORDER, I CAN'’T IMAGINE DOING THAT.

>> THAT BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT POINT.

THAT IS VERY UNIQUE ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS, THE WAY IT HAS SUCH TIGHTKNIT COMMUNITIES.

IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE TO UPLIFT THOSE TIGHTKNIT COMMUNITIES, THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND, WORKING WITH THESE FAMILIES, UPLIFTING THEIR STORIES, UPLIFTING ALL OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PROVIDING THEM A FUTURE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE LEARNED WORKING MY TIME IN CHELSEA, IT IS A 1.7 SQUARE MILES CITY AND FOR BETTER OR WORSE IT HAS A VERY CLOSE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT IN A WAY IS HOW WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AS A SOCIETY AND LEARN TO EMPHASIZE -- TO EMPATHIZE WITH OUR NEIGHBOR IF WE ACTUALLY ARE OUT RECOGNIZING, I KNOW SO-AND-SO WHO WORKS AT THIS CONVENIENCE STORE, THAT KIND OF THING WOULD REALLY HELP US AS A SOCIETY.

>> THAT EMPATHY IS SO IMPORTANT.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HUMANIZE PEOPLE, TO HUMANIZE THEM AS INDIVIDUALS, TO HUMANIZE THEM AS A COLLECTIVE AND SO FORTH.

WHAT IS MASSACHUSETTS DOING RIGHT, IVAN?

WHAT IS MASSACHUSETTS DOING RIGHT BY IMMIGRANTS?

>> MAYBE IT IS LESS ABOUT WHAT MASSACHUSETTS IS DOING RIGHT AND MORE BUILDING ON WHAT MY COLLEAGUE IS TALKING ABOUT, COMMUNITY.

AS I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THE CURRENT EMIGRANT CRISIS, I ALSO THINK ABOUT OUR OWN EXPERIENCE OF LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, JUST WORKING ON THE LEGAL FRONT OF THE CURRENT CRISIS.

RESPONDING TO THE MARTHA'’S VINEYARD FLIGHT SENT BY DESANTIS, WHEN THOSE FLIGHTS LANDED, IT WAS NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT UNDERGROUND, IT WAS COMMUNITY, IT WAS NEIGHBORS COMING WITH WINTER JACKETS, WITH WINTER COATS, WITH CANNED FOODS, IT WAS THE DENTIST DOWN THE STREET CHECKING A LITTLE KID WHO HAD JUST GOT OFF THE PLANE AND WAS IN PAIN.

IT WAS MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THESE RESOURCES, THAT A CONSTELLATION OF RESOURCES ARE BEING MOBILIZED, AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT -- THE GOVERNMENT PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN THAT.

IT WAS ANCHORED IN COMMUNITY.

THE WAY THAT THOSE NEARLY 50 MIGRANTS OF ARTHUR'’S VINEYARD WERE SUPPORTED I THINK PROVIDES A MODEL FOR HOW WE CAN DEAL WITH THE MIGRANT CRISIS, AND YET WE NEVER, OVER THE PAST SIX, 12 MONTHS, HAVE SEEN THAT TYPE OF COORDINATION OF RESOURCES.

IF IT IS EITHER THE GOVERNMENT DOING IT ALONE OR HAVING A GROUP AND THEY ARE DOING FEARLESS WORK.

IT IS INCREDIBLE THE WORK THEY ARE DOING EVERY DAY.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO NOT DOING IT WITH THE TYPE OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT WERE DEPLOYED, EVEN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TO RESPOND TO THE MARTHA'’S VINEYARD CRISIS.

WE ARE MISSING SOME PIECES.

>> STICKING WITH THAT, WE ARE COUNTING DOWN THE SECONDS HERE, HUMANIZING OF THIS POPULATION SO THAT OTHERS CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

30 SECONDS EACH IF YOU WILL.

>> THESE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

THIS COULD BE YOU.

I HAVE ALWAYS STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHO IS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU WANT THEM TO HELP YOU IN THE SAME WAY WE WOULD PUT FORWARD TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS.

>> LOOK AT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND WHO IS WORKING THERE.

NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES, THEY ARE WORKING FOR THE STATE AND THE CITY.

WE HAVE THIS POTENTIAL HERE.

IT IS A MATTER OF GIVING THEM THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A PLACE TO STAY, AND THEN THEY WILL BE THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF YOUR DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE REAL ASSETS IN OUR MIDST AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEM IN RELATION TO OUR COMMONWEALTH.

>> I WORRY ABOUT MIGRANTS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A PLACE TO STAY.

MANY HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT OF THE LATEST SHELTER WITH THE STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DOWNTOWN.

>> THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR US ON THE GROUND, TRYING TO CENTRALIZE AND FIND THESE WARMING SHELTERS.

A LOT OF THE TIME THAT MEANS ON RELYING ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALREADY EXISTS, CHURCHES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR YEARS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE MALDEN WARMING CENTER HAS BEEN A HUGE RESOURCE FOR US.

IT IS THE CLOSEST, AND LIKE ANYTHING RESEMBLING A SHELTER NEAR CHELSEA THAT WE CAN SEND FAMILIES TO.

A LOT OF TIMES WE SEE FAMILIES MAKE THE CONSCIOUS CHOICE NOT TO GO TO SHELTERS THAT ARE LOCATED IN BOSTON BECAUSE THEY DON'’T HAVE THE COMMUNITY, THEY DON'’T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION AND THEY WOULD RATHER BE CLOSE TO THINGS THAT THEY KNOW INSTEAD OF MOVING AWAY FROM SOMETHING NEW.

I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THAT.

>> NEXT STEPS?

ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> WE NEED BETTER COORDINATION OF RESOURCES SECTORS, GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR.

THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.

AND FEDERAL PROTECTION AS WELL.

>> WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HELPING THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.

SO WE HAVE A DUTY TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN OUR MIDST AND HELP.

WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT COALITION BY BRINGING ALL OF THE RESOURCES WHERE THEY NEED TO BE SO WE CAN SERVE THOSE FAMILIES.

>> AND WE SAW THAT IN THE CLINIC THAT HELPED MIGRANTS GET WORK AUTHORIZATION, HOW THAT COORDINATION REALLY BUILDS AND GETS WORK DONE.

WE NEED MUCH MORE OF THAT, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, LET'’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR COST OF HOUSING, AT EXPO TAKING -- AT EXPEDITING WORK AUTHORIZATIONS.

IF FAMILIES WANT TO GET OUT OF SHELTER, WHICH THEY DESPERATELY DO, WE NEED TO HELP THEM GET WORKING AND GET OUT OF THERE SO THEY CAN KEEP THEIR LIVES MOVING.

>> FOLKS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.

THAT IS THE END OF OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

BUT BEFORE WE GO, THIS IS OUR FINAL EPISODE OF THE YEAR.

WE HAVE SOME SAD NEWS TO REPORT.

OUR COLLEAGUE AND ASSOCIATE PRODUCER OF BASIC BLACK PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.

KENDRICK WAS AN INTERVAL PART OF THE SHOW AND WILL BE TRULY MISSED.

OUR CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO HIS FRIENDS, GBH COLLEAGUES AND HIS FAMILY.

NOW STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATIONS ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.

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