Senator Walczyk Reacts To Migrant Children Forced Into NYS Public Schools

Mark Walczyk

August 29, 2023

chamber candid

With New York State taking the brunt of failed immigration policy at the federal level, some Albany Democrats are responding by forcing public schools to enroll migrant children, ignoring the basic enrollment requirements of every New York student. Attorney General Letitia James and NYSED Commissioner Betty Rosa have made statements to school administrators to force acceptance of migrant children regardless of vaccination, proof of residency, or school records of any kind.

In recent years, students who refused certain vaccines were disenrolled from public schools. The State is choosing to force enrollment of non-compliant (likely illegal) migrants over the children of hard-working citizen/residents of New York State. While New York students give proof of required immunizations, their parents pay property tax, show proof that they live in the district, and comply with all other enrollment requirements, the heavy hand of Albany Democrats use our resources to force a new set of special rules for one group. 

The New York State Constitution states: “The legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a system of free common schools, wherein all the children of this state may be educated.” 

"The children of people who entered this country illegally should not be afforded more liberty than kids whose parents are citizens of the United States and legal residents of New York," said Walczyk. "Democrat politicians like Tish James and Kathy Hochul need to stop using children as props for signaling their social virtues. Instead of focusing on issues like immigration I'd like to see the Commissioner of Education answering for NY's ten point drop in 4th grade reading proficiency. While the State Education Department is publishing full protocols about the sexual liberation of 9 year olds, Betty Rosa is doing exactly nothing to improve the education gap caused by government shutdown or our SAT ranking of 33rd in the nation."


Senator Mark Walczyk represents the 49th Senate District, which includes the entire counties of Jefferson, Lewis, Hamilton and Fulton. As well as parts of Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Herkimer counties. Sign up for exclusive updates from the Senator via his weekly newsletter by clicking HERE or by emailing walczyk@nysenate.gov.