Parents express concerns over NYC’s plan to relocate numerous undocumented immigrants to a high school gym
Outrage as Illegal Immigrants Take Over New York High School
Parents and politicians gathered outside of James Madison High School in New York on Wednesday to express their outrage after around 2,000 illegal immigrants were transported to the school to spend the night due to high winds threatening a migrant tent camp.
On Tuesday, city officials transported the illegal immigrants from Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field to James Madison High School as the city faced a storm causing high winds. The migrants flooding the high school resulted in an early dismissal for students on Tuesday and remote classes on Wednesday.
“The writing was on the wall the minute the city started being inundated with migrants,” one mother of a student at James Madison told The New York Post. “It’s disgusting. It should not be put on us taxpayers.”
The woman’s daughter added, “I do believe they are putting the life of people who are here illegally and not documented over my life. I am a 15-year-old girl at the school who wants to get her education and better her life, and she can’t come to school today because the day was interrupted by people who aren’t supposed to be here.”
Elina Bekker, another mother of a student at the school said she was concerned that the city’s decision to move migrants to the high school will become “a recurring event.”
“We were concerned how will this affect those students in the future if it’s a one-time thing,” Bekker said. “But if it’s going to be a recurring event, it’s definitely not acceptable.
“The school should not be used,” she added. “Our kids are supposed to be here feeling safe and able to learn. Many of our kids have Regents coming up in February [and] they just lost a day of school, a day of learning.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited the school Tuesday night after the illegal immigrants arrived, saying city workers were “doing a great job keeping asylum seekers safe and dry before they depart tomorrow morning.”
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On the ground at James Madison High School. Our @nycemergencymgt, @nychealthsystem, and @nycschools teams are doing a great job keeping asylum seekers safe and dry before they depart tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/VKMWrnJvLR
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 10, 2024
NYC Education Department spokesman Nathaniel Styer responded to criticism of the move to house illegal immigrants in a school, posting on social media, “Schools are safe havens—for all children, including our newest New Yorkers.”
“For years, they have opened their doors to families displaced during emergencies. Our city is owed federal support in this crisis, but turning our back on the most vulnerable is not what we stand for,” Styer added.
Many New Yorkers didn’t see it that way, however. NYC Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov blasted city and state officials on Tuesday, saying, “Our schools are not migrant shelters!”
New York State Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny joined parents protesting outside of James Madison High School on Wednesday, arguing that the city’s decision to move migrants to the school is not the solution.
Today I stood alongside my colleagues in the Assembly, and concerned parents for a Rally outside of James Madison High School. I have been very outspoken about placements of temporary migrant shelters in our communities and within our public schools. We are a compassionate and… pic.twitter.com/bwfXLRYfsC
— Assemblymember Brook-Krasny (@AlecBrookKrasny) January 10, 2024
How are parents and students expressing their frustration and concern over the impact of this decision on their education and safety?
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More than 2,000 migrants were temporarily housed at a New York City high school due to inclement weather. Parents and students are expressing their outrage at the disruption caused by this decision. #Immigration #Education #NewYorkCity
— The Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) February 5, 2022
The city’s decision to temporarily house 2,000 illegal immigrants at James Madison High School in New York has sparked outrage among parents, students, and politicians. On Wednesday, a protest was held outside the school to express discontent with the disruption caused by this action.
The influx of illegal immigrants to the high school came as a result of high winds threatening a migrant tent camp. City officials decided to transport the migrants to James Madison High as a temporary solution, leading to an early dismissal for students on Tuesday and remote classes on Wednesday.
Parents and students have voiced their frustration and concern over the impact of this decision on their education and safety. One mother expressed her disgust, questioning why taxpayers’ money should be used to accommodate illegal immigrants instead of focusing on the needs of students who are legally entitled to be there.
Her daughter, a 15-year-old student at the school, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that her education and future aspirations were being overshadowed by the presence of undocumented individuals. For students who have Regents exams approaching in February, the disruption caused by losing a day of school is particularly worrisome.
Another parent raised concerns about the potential recurrence of such incidents in the future. Elina Bekker worried about the long-term implications for the students if this becomes a regular occurrence, emphasizing that it is unacceptable for the school to be consistently used for non-educational purposes.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited the school on Tuesday night to show his support for the city workers who were tasked with ensuring the safety and well-being of the asylum seekers. However, his visit did little to assuage the concerns of the parents and students who felt their needs were being disregarded.
This incident emphasizes the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding immigration and its impact on communities. While humanitarian concerns must be taken into account, the disruption and perceived prioritization of illegal immigrants over lawful residents have raised valid concerns and sparked a heated debate.
Moving forward, it is crucial for policymakers to strike a balance between addressing humanitarian needs and safeguarding the education and well-being of students. Open dialogue and proactive measures should be utilized to ensure the fair treatment of all individuals involved, while also prioritizing the educational experience of students.
As this incident in New York demonstrates, decisions of this nature can evoke strong emotions and highlight the need for comprehensive immigration policies that address the concerns of all stakeholders. Only through open and respectful dialogue can a sustainable solution be reached, one that upholds the rights and needs of both citizens and migrants.
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