Gov. Maura Healey said Friday the state will conduct full criminal background checks on all emergency shelter residents, explaining she requested more thorough vetting months ago but the checks never happened.

Gov. Maura Healey discussed an interest in realigning the state’s right-to-shelter law “with its original intent,” opening up a possible area of debate in talks over her shelter

A spokesperson for the Healey administration said that the state was already conducting limited background checks on residents of the emergency assistance shelters, the governor has now ordered that the checks include a check against the Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information database. That process is often called a CORI check.

The migrant crisis was not at the top of anyone’s mind when Healey was elected 14 months ago. But, it has quickly become the most complex and bitter issue facing the administration.

"I believe these changes are appropriate and needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the state shelter system," she said.

The residency requirements could effectively end the law as it's currently applied, meaning newly arrived immigrants could be ineligible.

Newly released state data show a slew of alleged criminal activity at the shelters, and federal authorities are pursuing the case of a man charged with gun and drug crimes at an emergency shelter in Revere.

Gov. Maura Healey proposed a series of major changes to state-run emergency shelters Wednesday that attempt to cordon off the maxed-out system from individuals who are not Massachusetts residents,

Progressives are demanding Beacon Hill lawmakers reject Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed changes to state-run emergency shelters as other critics welcome the governor’s requests, some of which raise

Republicans thought Gov. Maura Healey’s annual address “presented a rosy picture” that “fell short of reality;” while top Democrats in the Massachusetts Legislature said they were glad she highlighted past successes,

As the migrant crisis intensifies in Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey is calling for a closer look–and potential overhaul–of the right-to-shelter law.

If the Democrats have lost Needham, they’ve lost everywhere. This is why on Monday, Americans will be regaining control of America. Today, America. Tomorrow, Massachusetts.