This practice has been adopted by some local governments, prompting concerns and calls for action.
The U.S. House of Representatives is set to discuss a new bill aimed at prohibiting the use of public schools as temporary housing for illegal immigrants
House Resolution 461, titled “Condemning the Use of Elementary and secondary education facilities to provide shelter for Aliens who are not Admitted to the United States,” was recently released by the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
The bill’s sponsor, U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks from Iowa, emphasized that American schoolchildren should not bear the consequences of the flawed immigration policies of either the Biden administration or local leaders. Miller-Meeks argued that the use of public school facilities to shelter undocumented immigrants diverts valuable educational resources from children who are already grappling with learning setbacks caused by the pandemic.
One notable example cited in the resolution involved approximately 300 immigrants being housed in current or former public school gyms in New York City. The resolution also highlighted Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal to utilize up to 20 public school gyms for overflow housing. Miller-Meeks expressed concerns about the safety risks this presents to schoolchildren and the potential compromise to the schools’ security.
Miller-Meeks raised issues about the impact on students’ access to safe recreation and physical exercise if school gyms are utilized as temporary shelters
In response, House Resolution 461 proposes that elementary and secondary schools should be ineligible for federal financial assistance if they provide housing or sanctuary to illegal aliens.
Several Republicans have shown support for the bill, including U.S. Representative Brandon Williams from New York, who highlighted the detrimental effect of housing undocumented migrants in student dormitories and housing facilities within the SUNY system. Williams argued that these migrants are unvetted and unverified, and their presence alongside American students is unacceptable.
House Resolution 461 has garnered the support of 12 other Republicans on the committee, indicating a unified effort to address the issue of utilizing public schools as housing for illegal immigrants. The legislation seeks to safeguard the educational resources, security, and well-being of American students while ensuring that federal financial assistance is not provided to schools that offer shelter to undocumented aliens.
Leave a Reply