WSMV 4 News – by Chris RueliSPRINGFIELD, MA (WSHM) – Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said that the burden and the strain on services that would occur due to having illegal migrant children housed in Western Mass. would fall upon taxpayers.
Gov. Deval Patrick announced Friday morning that Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee is one of two proposed locations that could shelter immigrant children.
Sarno said he does care about the issue, but admits there are plenty of struggles areas like Springfield currently have to address.
Those struggles are related to children and families that are near or below the poverty level.
“If you cannot properly provide services for these illegal migrants that are coming over the border, what are you then perpetuating? You’re perpetuating poverty being concentrated on top of poverty which would be in urban centers such as Springfield,” Sarno said.
At the base, Master Sgt. Andrew S. Biscoe said they would like to help, but all of the rooms that are on the base are occupied on the weekend by reservists.
Now the debate is about “where can we house them” rather than “how can we stop them.” Didn’t the taxpayers just buy 1.6 billion bullets? Mow ’em down.