Mass. Gov. Healey slams Biden administration over immigration policies

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) declared a state of emergency on Tuesday over "rapidly rising" numbers of migrants arriving in the state and overwhelming its shelters.

Why it matters: She's the latest Democratic governor to criticize the Biden administration's handling of an increase in migrants entering major cities around the country, calling it a "federal crisis of inaction."

• Multiple Democratic governors, including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have in recent months asked for additional assistance from the federal government or changes in policies to respond to the influx.
• Democratic mayors, too, have criticized the Biden administration over immigration, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams publicly blaming the White House for the problem last week.

What they're saying: Healey in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday said the state needed "urgent federal action to meet this moment and to continue to serve some of our most vulnerable families.

• While she faulted the federal government, Healey also called on Congress to pass legislation that would help migrants get work authorizations and "address our outdated and punitive immigration laws."

The big picture: Though they've taken issue with the Biden administration's immigration response, governors and mayors, including Newsom, Pritzker and Adams, have denounced Republican governors who have flown or bussed asylum seekers to major cities.

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) have flown or bussed migrants to cities run by Democrats in recent years to protest the Biden administration's immigration policies, which they claim are too lenient.
• Illegal border crossings dropped to the lowest level in over two years in June.

Go deeper: Central Park among options "on the table" to house influx of migrants in NYC