WASHINGTON – Congressman Marcus Molinaro’s (R, NY-19) legislation dubbed the “Schools Not Shelter Act” would prevent schools from being turned into shelters for undocumented immigrants sent into communities by large urban areas.
The freshman lawmaker expected the measure to be adopted in the House of Representatives Wednesday evening. It has no Senate sponsor at the moment, he acknowledged.
Molinaro was prompted to draft the measure following New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ transfer of immigrants from the Big Apple – a self-proclaimed sanctuary city – to other parts of New York, including the Hudson Valley.
“A failure to plan by the president, the governor and the mayor is a plan to fail, and we see it fail in the State of New York,” he said. “The imposition of New York City on upstate counties has resulted in Democrat-led ands Republican-led counties making it abundantly clear that without coordination, without communication, the City of New York certainly cannot impose its challenge on counties that are over-burdened and don’t have the resources to respond appropriately.”
Months ago, Mayor Adams sent asylum seekers to Rockland, Westchester, Orange and Dutchess counties. All but Westchester have been fighting the move in the court system.
