A former immigrant shelter director in Massachusetts is petitioning Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to investigate a ‘disturbing pattern’ of criminal activity in the state-run migrant shelter system. Jon Fetherston, who previously directed an immigrant shelter in Marlborough, Massachusetts, has raised alarms about widespread abuse, including sexual assaults and financial misconduct. He claims that the system has been plagued by a culture of silence and a lack of accountability, with incidents often falling through the cracks.
Fetherston’s allegations center around a Haitian migrant named Ronald Joseph, who was living in his shelter and repeatedly raped and impregnated his 3-year-old daughter. After discovering the abuse, Fetherston allegedly faced aggression from Joseph, who reportedly reached across the table and grabbed him, shouting and physically threatening him. Despite the gravity of the situation, Fetherston was directed to arrange a Lyft ride for Joseph to another shelter in Worcester County, and Joseph was not arrested until nearly eight months later. This case, according to Fetherston, is not isolated, as he claims there is rampant undocumented violence, sexual misconduct, and other criminal activities within the shelters.
He further highlighted that the system is plagued by misuse of federal and state funds, a lack of coordination with federal law enforcement agencies, and retaliation against those who report misconduct or abuse. In a letter sent to Bond, Fetherston emphasized that the incidents ‘cannot be brushed aside any longer,’ as innocent people, especially children, are being harmed while the perpetrators remain protected by silence and political calculation.
Fetherston placed much of the blame on Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey, whose administration has been vocal in its criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. He argued that Healey’s hotel shelter policy has had devastating effects on both shelter residents and local communities. He stated that he personally witnessed traumatic incidents, including assaults, fraud, and serious mental health crises, with minimal intervention from the state. Additionally, he claimed that challenges to the administration’s narrative have resulted in retaliation, including threats to his safety, public discrediting, and physical targeting.
Healey’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, prior to this, Healey had expressed outrage and called for a full audit of the state’s shelters after a 28-year-old illegal immigrant, Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, was found using a shelter to store an AR-15 and nearly $1 million in illegal drugs. Fetherston now seeks immediate federal intervention, urging the DOJ to launch a comprehensive inquiry into the systemic failures within the Massachusetts-run migrant shelters.