South Shore Press received a tip that a development happening on more than thirty acres of property on Old Country Rd. in Eastport was being done to house illegal immigrants. The site was once Leiers Mobile Home Park established in the 1950s.
Alarm bells rang with rumors that this development might be intended to permanently house illegal immigrants in Eastport pumping potentially several hundred children into the local public school system.
The term 'illegal immigrant' has become a bit fungible with changes to the names of different status types under the Biden Administration. Many individuals who would traditionally be considered illegal aliens have been given temporary status with court dates as long as 7 years away.
Even though they entered the United States illegally, they have been allowed to go anywhere they want in the United States until their hearing even if it is years away. Most have no means of supporting themselves or any family connection in the country.
It appears that the new development will consist of a hundred-plus mobile homes. Concerns arose, and Internet messages traveled around, saying that the development would house several hundred illegal immigrant families and that as many as 100-300 new students would be pushed into the neighboring schools.
The resident who contacted us said, “Why do we still have Americans living on the streets? This shouldn’t be happening” calling out the point that illegal immigrants have been given massive taxpayer benefits while many Americans struggle.
South Shore Press (SSP) wanted to get to the bottom of the rumors, so we contacted Farrell Development directly to get the scoop. Farrell is the developer of the land in question. Brian DeSesa, Vice President of Farrell Development spoke to SSP about the project and the rumors.
The project is, “definitely not aimed at illegal immigrants. A thousand percent, not,” DeSesa says. “We're rehabilitating it. We're putting in new mobile home units. They will be market rate.”
DeSesa said the rumors “floated around on Facebook last night are factually incorrect. I don't know where the lies were created, but it couldn't be farther from the truth.”
DeSesa says the property is already zoned for mobile homes and Farrell is not seeking any zoning changes. Some residents have stayed in place through the construction.
SSP will continue to follow this project and watch what happens.