NE Florida News

WASHINGTON– Today, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (R-FL), Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) have expressed their concerns over New York City Mayor Eric Adams' decision to close James Madison High School in order to house migrants in the school's gym.

In a letter addressed to Mayor Adams, the lawmakers expressed their disapproval of the school closure and the subsequent disruption it caused to the students' education. They stated, "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 further emphasized that schools should be used solely for the purpose of educating students and not for housing illegal aliens. They argued that it is unfair to penalize school children for a problem not of their making and that it is irresponsible to prioritize the needs of illegal aliens over the needs of American citizens. They also criticized the Biden administration's failure to secure the border, stating, "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."

In their letter, the lawmakers posed several questions to Mayor Adams, seeking clarification on the decision to use James Madison High School as a shelter for migrants. They asked why the school was chosen for this purpose and how the migrants were vetted before being allowed to enter school property. They also inquired about the notice given to parents before the school closure and the duration of the closure. Additionally, they requested information on the preparations that will be made to ensure the school is ready for students once it is no longer being used as a shelter, including details on how these preparations will be funded. The lawmakers also asked if there are plans to use other public elementary or secondary school facilities to house migrants and, if so, under what circumstances and for how long.

The lawmakers concluded their letter by demanding answers to these questions and expressing their concerns about the prioritization of illegal aliens over American citizens. They urged Mayor Adams to prioritize the education and well-being of the students and to ensure that such disruptions do not occur in the future.

The full letter can be accessed by clicking here.