Posted on March 14, 2023

NYC Mayor Floats Plan to Send Migrants to College for Free

Kyle Morris, Fox News, March 10, 2023

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, is hoping to send illegal migrants to college for free, with taxpayers footing the bill that could cost around $1.2 million in the first year.

Adams’ plan, according to a report from the New York Post, could go on indefinitely and would provide an estimated 100 migrants with 12 months of classes, room and board in upstate Sullivan County.

The pilot program will be overseen by Adams’ newly created Office of Asylum Seeker Operations — which works on the coordination of the city’s continued response to a large influx of migrants with a focus on resettlement and legal services, as well as a new 24/7 arrival center for asylum seekers.

While the plan’s total cost has not been disclosed, it is likely to cost taxpayers $1.2 million in the first year, based on the price of two semesters at SUNY Sullivan.

“The mayor’s office is giving us money for things like supplies for people to live on, and the dorms and food,” said Michael Rosen, a spokesman for The Center for Discovery, according to the Post.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who serves as chair of the House Republican Conference, blasted the plan, accusing Adams of “making a permanent welfare system for illegal immigrants in New York State.”

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An internal memo from the New York City Office of Management and Budget, which was reported by the Post last month, states that the city will spend an estimated $4.2 billion on costs related to migrants and asylum seekers that would be spent through June 30, 2023, and the end of fiscal year 2024.