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KINGSTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Town of Kingston says more than a hundred migrants are now staying at a hotel in town. Town Administrator Keith Hickey said the migrants were dropped off by the state, and that he got almost no heads up.
Hickey told WBZ NewsRadio he received a call from the state at about 5:00 PM last Friday, warning him that nine migrants would be staying in the city.
"By the time I got to work on Monday morning, it was up to 107," he said.
Hickey said he understood many of the migrants were speaking creole, but besides that, has no idea where they originated. They are now staying at the Baymont by Wyndham Hotel in town.
The town manager said the state agency that is responsible for the migrants, the State Department of Housing and Community Development, told him "their hope is to have them located in a more permanent spot by the end of the year."
"In the last two or three days since this has become public, it has been completely time consuming. I have done nothing else but answer phone calls and provide interviews..." said Hickey.
The state is paying for the migrants' housing arrangements, Hickey said. This case is separate from the migrant flights that landed on Martha's Vineyard last month, sent by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
WBZ NewsRadio has reached out to the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for comment.
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