Former migrant shelter director asking AG Bondi to investigate widespread abuse

A former immigrant shelter director in Massachusetts is calling on the Attorney General and the Department of Justice to investigate the alarming pattern of criminal activity, sexual assaults, and financial abuse that he says is pervasive in the state-run migrant shelter system.

Jon Fetherston, who previously served as a director of an immigrant shelter in Marlborough, Massachusetts, first brought attention to the widespread abuse in the shelter system after discovering that a Haitian migrant named Ronald Joseph had repeatedly raped and impregnated his 13-year-old daughter while living in the shelter.

Fetherston recounted a disturbing incident where Joseph became violent and aggressive upon learning that he was losing custody of his daughter. Instead of being immediately arrested, Fetherston was instructed to arrange for Joseph to be transferred to another shelter in Worcester County. Joseph was only arrested eight months later in February.

Fetherston emphasized that this case was not an isolated incident, citing a culture of undocumented violence that includes rape, domestic violence, sex trafficking, drug dealing, and other crimes that often go unreported or unnoticed within the Massachusetts shelter system.

In a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Fetherston highlighted the need for a thorough investigation into criminal activity and sexual violence within Massachusetts-run migrant shelters, as well as the misuse of federal and state funds, lack of coordination with federal law enforcement agencies, and the tendency to retaliate against individuals who report abuse or misconduct.

Fetherston expressed concern over the lack of accountability and reforms within the shelter system, attributing much of the mismanagement and abuse to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. He criticized Healey for her administration’s hotel shelter policy, which he claimed had led to overcrowded and poorly managed facilities with minimal oversight, resulting in compromised safety for residents and strained resources for local communities.

He also alleged that speaking out against the administration had resulted in retaliation, including threats to his safety, public discredit, and physical targeting.

While Healey’s office did not provide immediate comment on the allegations, the governor had previously called for an audit of the state’s shelters following a discovery that an illegal immigrant had stored weapons and illegal drugs in a shelter.

Fetherston urged for immediate federal action to address the crisis within the shelter system, stressing the importance of protecting innocent individuals, especially children, from harm and holding those responsible for abuse and misconduct accountable.

The former shelter director-turned-whistleblower emphasized the need for transparency, collaboration with municipalities, and a culture of accountability to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals within the migrant shelter system.