Jon Fetherston, a former shelter director in Massachusetts, disclosed a series of violent and disturbing events at migrant shelters.
A series of unsettling incidents at a migrant shelter in Massachusetts have come to light, shedding light on significant safety and management issues, Fox News reported.
During his tenure from November 2023 to July 2024 at the Holiday Inn in Marlborough, Fetherston reported numerous violent incidents and sexual attacks, which included a child being impregnated by her father. This father, Ronald Joseph, allegedly assaulted his daughter multiple times throughout their journey to the U.S. and continued doing so at the shelter.
Fetherston expressed frustration over the authorities’ handling of these grave offenses. Despite Joseph's confession to the rape, authorities transferred him to another shelter, a decision Fetherston couldn't fathom.
"They had me send them to Worcester County... And I, for the life of me, don’t understand why he wasn’t locked up. A man who admits he committed rape, you’re just going to put in another shelter so he can rape again another day? It makes no sense," Jon Fetherston commented on the handling of Ronald Joseph.
Another horrific case involved Gladimy Rodene, a 29-year-old man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at the same facility. This series of events raises concerns over the safety protocols and management effectiveness within these shelters.
Fetherston was responsible for ensuring migrants had access to social services and daily necessities, a task he found daunting due to the overwhelming needs of the newcomers. "Many of these families are migrants to Massachusetts, drawn here because we are and proudly have been a beacon to those in need," stated Governor Maura Healey in defense of the state's humanitarian efforts.
Conflicts at the shelter also escalated to physical altercations, including disputes over microwave use and an incident where a migrant drove a car into Fetherston's office after becoming disgruntled with the scaling back of certain supplies to those already receiving benefits.
"If you were receiving benefits and you were receiving those, then we were going to start scaling back on providing diapers, formula and wipes. That did not go over well with the migrants. They thought that they were being attacked. A gentleman then drove his car into my office," recalled Fetherston about the violent reaction to policy changes.
Despite these troubling reports, Governor Healey has expressed a firm stance against cooperating with the upcoming administration's deportation efforts, aligning with Massachusetts' sanctuary state status. She emphasized the pressure on state officials to balance enforcement with protection.
With Massachusetts spending nearly $1.1 billion this fiscal year on accommodating migrants, the state faces tough scrutiny over its ability to manage both the welfare of migrants and the financial implications of such hospitality.
In conclusion, these accounts from Jon Fetherston highlight critical vulnerabilities in the management and safety of migrant shelters in Massachusetts. The balance between being a sanctuary and protecting all residents—including migrants themselves—remains a contentious and complex issue that state officials must address amid these reports.
