Massachusetts Republican Lawmakers Say Illegal Immigration Is Breaking State Financially

ROCKLAND, Mass.—Massachusetts Sen. Peter Durant believes that nonstop illegal immigration to the Bay State combined with a net outflow of tax revenue is a “recipe for disaster.” Each year, he said, approximately 50,000 taxpaying residents flee Massachusetts for less expensive states, followed by a daily influx of “tax-taking” illegal immigrants. “What’s the purpose of bringing all these people in?” said Mr. Durant, a Republican who wants to amend or scrap the state’s “right-to-shelter” law that allows families in the state illegally to settle at taxpayer expense. “I don’t think they [the state government] want the public to understand what they’re doing. The way I see it, they’re intentionally obfuscating about the whole issue here,” Mr. Durant said....