2,000 migrants shelter in NYC high school, students pivot to remote learning

[KARAH RUCKER]

SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NEW YORK WILL BE LEARNING REMOTE WHILE THEIR SCHOOL IS OCCUPIED BY THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS IN NEED OF TEMPORARY 

SHELTER AS A STORM ROLLS THROUGH.

HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

AROUND TWO THOUSAND MIGRANTS ARE IN NEED OF SHELTER AS HIGH WINDS AND DANGEROUS FLOOD CONDITIONS THREATEN THE CITY.

THOSE MIGRANTS WERE STAYING AT A SHELTER SITE AT FLOYD BENNETT FIELD IN BROOKLYN –

MADE UP OF SEVEN LARGE “CLIMATE-CONTROLLED TENTS.

THE CITY SAYS THE SHELTER WASN’T A SAFE PLACE TO BE AS HIGH WINDS COULD DAMAGE OR TOPPLE THEM.

SO MIGRANTS WERE LOADED UP ON DOZENS OF BUSES.

AND SENT TO JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THEY WILL BE TEMPORARILY CAMPED OUT IN THE GYMNASIUMS, THE CAFETERIA, AND AUDITORIUM TO RIDE OUT TO STORM

THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION BY THE CITY – 

HAS RECEIVED SOME CRITICISM.

[Inna Vernikov, New York City councilwoman]

“Everytime that theres flood are they gonna find a new school to move migrants to?

Our schools are not migrant shelters. They are a place of learning for our students paid for by our taxpayer dollars.”

“This is not good for anyone, the migrants, their children and not students and families.” 

[KARAH RUCKER]

ONE NEW YORK ASSEMBLYMAN IS LEADING AN “EMERGENCY RALLY” OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL THIS MORNING –

ALONGSIDE CONCERNED PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THIS TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS A QUOTE “SLIPPERY SLOPE.”

ASSEMBLYMAN “MIKE REILLY” SAYS –

“CITY OFFICIALS ARE NOW SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENCE FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS CRISIS – OPENING PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AMONG THE SAFEST PLACES FOR OUR YOUTH TO AN ILLEGAL AND LARGELY UNKNOWN MIGRANT POPULATION.”

MANY OF THE MIGRANTS IN NEW YORK CITY HAVE BEEN PROCESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND RELEASED WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEIR ASYLUM HEARINGS.

MORE THAN 157 THOUSAND ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE IN NEW YORK CITY –

WITH MORE ARRIVING EVERY DAY.