LaLota Votes to Protect Our Schools and Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, July 19th, 2023, Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01) issued the following statement after voting YES on the Schools Not Shelters Act. This legislation would prevent public schools which receive federal funding from being used as shelters for migrants. The prohibition would prevent public universities, high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools from being used for this purpose.

“Our schools should support our children and our taxpayer dollars should help law-abiding Americans. The plans of Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams to house unvetted adult migrants in our public schools are unacceptable and dangerous,” said LaLota. “We have spent decades and countless resources making our schools safer and housing unvetted migrants alongside our students is a step backwards. Public safety is the top concern of New York families and this commonsense bill will help give them peace of mind.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

Background:

Last month, LaLota voted in favor of a resolution condemning the use of elementary and secondary public school facilities as shelters for migrants who are not legally admitted to the United States.

In May it was reported that New York City, a self-imposed sanctuary city since 1989, had begun to convert public school gymnasiums into housing for migrants after the growing number of migrants overwhelmed the city’s homeless shelter system. A recent report said that the City spends $8 million a day to house migrants just as the city begins to send asylum seekers to other jurisdictions around the state.

Also in May, El Paso, Texas, began to use schools and churches to temporarily house illegal migrants. The city’s overall migrant response cost taxpayers $300,000 a day.

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