On Thursday, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (R-FL), and Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) sent a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams after his administration’s decision to close James Madison High School—forcing students into remote learning—in order to house migrants in the school’s gym.
In the letter, the lawmakers write: “As you know, James Madison High School was ordered to close on Wednesday, January 10, because of the decision to house migrants from Floyd Bennett Field in the school’s gym. These students were forced into unplanned virtual learning, and it remains unclear how long the disruption will last or whether there will be future disruptions. … It is unacceptable that you are disrupting the education of students by closing their school and forcing them to use a method of learning that leads to suboptimal outcomes.”
The lawmakers continue: “We find this school closure completely abhorrent. As we have made clear time and time again, schools should be used for educating students, not housing illegal aliens. It is grossly unfair to penalize school children for a problem not of their making, and it is entirely irresponsible to put illegal aliens over our own citizens. … School children in New York City, or anywhere in the country, should never bear the burden of the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border. … The nation’s children should come first, not those who break the law.”
The lawmakers conclude by requesting additional information, including:
- Why was James Madison High School selected as a site to shelter migrants when doing so would materially disrupt students’ education?
- How, if at all, were migrants vetted before being allowed to enter school property?
- How much notice was given to parents before the school was closed?
- How long will the school remain closed to students? Is it possible there will be future school closures?
- What will be done to prepare the school for students when the school is no longer being used as a shelter and how will these preparations be funded?
- Are there any plans to use other public elementary or secondary school facilities to house migrants? In what circumstances and for how long would other such schools be required to do so? Please describe all plans in detail.
To read the full letter, click here.
