Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
REVERE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The state's emergency shelter system is under greater scrutiny in Revere following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant on weapons and drug charges last month.
Revere's city council passed a resolution Monday night, calling for a representative from Governor Maura Healey's office to appear before the council and explain how the emergency shelter vetting process works and what her administration is doing to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
Leonardo Sanchez, 28, was arrested just after Christmas for allegedly possessing an assault rifle and 10 pounds of fentanyl while living at the Revere Quality Inn.
Prosecutors said Sanchez entered the United States illegally from the Dominican Republic.
During the council meeting, City Councilor Michelle Kelley said there is a lack of accountability within the Healey administration that led to the arrest.
"(The arrest) illustrates an overwhelming failure in procedural safeguards," Kelley said. "The Healey administration finally released public records revealing that over a thousand serious incidents were recorded at state shelters between January 2023 and August 2024."
The city council's resolution that passed unanimously also calls on the Healey administration to have a plan in place that ensures a background check is conducted on and passed by every individual before being allowed to stay at a state emergency shelter.
Sanchez is facing federal charges and is being held without bail.
WBZ News Radio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.