The Biden administration's failure to control the surge of illegal immigration has created a nationwide border crisis that is crippling schools across the country, as they struggle to accommodate the influx of migrant students and grapple with the financial strain it places on their already stretched resources.
On his first day in office, President Biden made it clear that he would prioritize amnesty for undocumented migrants and end policies that discouraged illegal border crossings. This message sent a resounding signal around the world: under his administration, it was acceptable to enter the United States illegally, disregarding laws and accessing benefits at the expense of American taxpayers.
As a predictable consequence, a border crisis erupted, escalating over the past four years. U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimates approximately nine million encounters at the southern border since 2021.
American communities nationwide are grappling with the financial fallout of Biden's inept border approach. Massachusetts taxpayers have already spent $300 million on the migrant crisis, with an additional $500 million allocated for next year's budget. Denver has experienced an influx of 42,000 illegal migrants, costing the city at least $120 million.
According to the House Budget Committee, citing data from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the overall net costs to the US from the border crisis exceed $150 billion annually, with a significant portion directed towards educating children of undocumented parents.
The strain on K-12 schools across the country is evident. A thorough review of documents obtained through a public records request by Parents Defending Education reveals that schools in communities heavily impacted by the border crisis are struggling to cope with the influx of migrant students.
Educators and staff feel the weight of the time and resources required to cater to the demands of this rapidly diversifying classroom population. In Springfield, Massachusetts, internal emails acknowledge the "influx of newcomers" constantly increasing, necessitating the translation of resources into at least 17 different languages. One teacher noted the overwhelming challenge of securing interpreters for parent-teacher conferences, rendering it nearly a full-time endeavor.
Denver Public Schools (DPS) is also experiencing financial strain. Reports indicate that DPS is $20 million in the red due to the border crisis. Organizations like the Denver Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs (DOIRA) have requested the use of school property for migrant shelters or workspaces to address the city's crisis.
In rural Trinity County, Texas, the Cleveland I.S.D. district has seen its student population soar from 4,000 in 2014 to over 11,000 in 2022, with projections indicating a possible 22,000 by 2026. This growth, primarily driven by foreign nationals, has necessitated the construction of eight new schools, with twelve more planned, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.
In El Paso, the school district paid $145,000 to transfer federally mandated migrant education programs to local education services centers. Wichita Unified School District was quoted $63,000 by Scholastic for textbooks intended for migrant students.
Countless similar examples across America illustrate the nationwide disruption of school budgets and the diversion of funds from planned priorities due to the border crisis.
Abdicating America's responsibility to its schools and leaving them to bear the consequences of federal government failures is a disservice to all involved. It will undoubtedly deteriorate the quality of education for all students and continue to burden teachers indefinitely.
House Republicans will host a hearing this week to highlight the devastating impact of President Biden's border crisis on the nation's schools. This hearing will provide an opportunity for Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities and expose the Biden administration's failure to fulfill its fundamental duties.
Schools and students are still recovering from the profound educational losses incurred during the pandemic-induced school closures, and the federal government is further exacerbating the situation by creating additional obstacles to education. Students, parents, and teachers deserve better. It is imperative for President Biden to assume his responsibilities, secure the border, and restore order to our communities.
