Veterans told stay in Boston, take the “T” to Gillette – US scrambles with immigration response

Rooms no longer available for veterans at Army-Navy game Immigration controls scramble in US.

Rooms nearby Gillette Stadium were blocked by travel agents and veteran groups were canceled due to the state of Massachusetts having reserved the hotels and motels to house migrants coming into the state. Officials in Boston have said it is their legal responsibility to provide this housing.

Plans for the Army-Navy game at Gillette in December quickly revealed that hundreds, if not thousands of veterans planning a trip to New England for the game, would not have their places to stay. This left Massachusetts scrambling, and saying that this shouldn’t happen and they would strategize a solution.

A statement was provided late yesterday by Meet Boston:

In light of recent hotel issues related to attending the iconic Army-Navy game happening this December at Gillette Stadium, Meet Boston would like to offer the following statement –

For several years, the Meet Boston team has been working in partnership with the hotel community, the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and our host, Gillette Stadium, to prepare for the thousands of visitors who will attend the Army-Navy Game this December. Our teams have worked diligently to ensure that all guests – families, fans, veterans, team officials, and players – enjoy an amazing Boston experience as part of the weekend celebration. While the game itself will be held at Gillette Stadium, much of the activity around it, including the spirited Patriot Games, will be centered in downtown Boston.  

Recent attention has focused on an isolated situation, at specific hotels, in the area around Gillette Stadium which has created a false notion that widespread hotel displacement is happening without solutions in place.

Downtown Boston hotels are well prepared and equipped to accommodate the thousands of guests, especially our veterans whom we’re honored to host, visiting our region for the Army-Navy game. Boston offers a variety of hotel experiences, at all price points. In many cases, rates in Boston are more competitive than the properties surrounding the stadium. We encourage guests to visit Meet Boston’s website and utilize our dedicated reservation link to book at available hotels in Boston, with rates starting at $200 per night. Boston offers easy and accessible transportation to and from Gillette Stadium via the MBTA.

To mitigate the impact of this situation for displaced veterans, Meet Boston, working with the MBTA, will soon share with veterans staying in Boston-based hotels additional discounts for transportation to and from the game on the MBTA.

Rhode Island might help

Rumors are swirling in the veterans community in Rhode Island that the state is stepping up to help veterans in need of housing – with some large-scale solution being worked on. Stay tuned for more developments. It is not unusual for opposing teams at Patriot games, and attendees to stay in Rhode Island. Kasim Yarn has said veterans will be put up in an area such as the Convention Center.

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Build that wall is ‘on’ again

In an announcement by President Biden, 26 federal laws will be waived to permit new construction on the southern border wall to begin immediately. There is money appropriated for this specific purpose by Congress which has been sitting unused since the president took office. Yesterday, Biden said the border money “can’t be redirected”, so it has to be used for this purpose When asked if he thought the border walls work in curbing immigration, he curtly replied, “No”, and looked away. This action is the opposite of his promise to never build any additional walls, made when he took office.

Venezuelans

A second step is to reverse a welcoming executive move for all Venezuelans coming into the country. Less than a month later, the US government will now resume direct deportation flights for thousands of Venezuelans coming into the US.

Seen as contradictory steps, the White House has said they are not.

New York Mayor goes South

The Mayor of New York is on a multi-country trip to several countries which have the majority of migrants coming into Mexico and then the US, then being bussed primarily to New York City. Mayor Adams is personally traveling to the countries as he said “to beg people not to come here – there is no room – they won’t be staying in 4-star NYC hotels”.

Tidal Change

The beginning of a bi-partisan realization that massive immigration without planning, and control is badly impacting cities and states. Schools are being inundated in some communities with children who speak a variety of languages without resources to address them. Work permits are not allowed for illegal residents and laws haven’t been changed to address that. Sufficient housing is not available. Homeless migrants are taking priority for temporary housing and shelter housing over state residents in need. Hotels and motels right over the RI border are housing migrants, some with 100% occupancy, particularly coming from Haiti. How will the country deal with tourism issues and winter housing? All issues pressing for answers, with few solutions – up against a looming presidential election.

This is a developing story.