New York Mayor Puts High School Students on Remote Learning Over Migrant Crisis

Students at a New York City high school will attend virtual classes on Wednesday after Mayor Eric Adams ordered nearly 2,000 migrants moved into the public school from a makeshift facility due to expected rain storms and high winds.

James Madison High School Principal Jodie Cohen confirmed in a message to parents that the school's students will attend classes online amid inclement weather and as the city scrambles to shelter the roughly 2,000 migrants and asylum seekers.

"To ensure a smooth transition for families temporarily sheltering overnight in the building, our school building will be closed on Wednesday, January 10 and school will be in session remotely for all students," Cohen said. "Students should plan to log on and participate in their classes from home."

The families sheltering at the high school are expected to leave the campus to return to Floyd Bennett Field by 5 a.m. The city's Emergency Management Department has issued a travel advisory through noon on Wednesday due to expected wet and windy conditions.

“This is f—ed up,” a local resident, who identified himself only as Rob, told the New York Post. “It’s a litmus test. They are using a storm, a legitimate situation, where they are testing this out. I guarantee you they’ll be here for the entire summer."

The migrants have been housed at a city-run shelter at Floyd Bennett Field until they were abruptly shuttled Tuesday evening to the high school, located roughly five miles away.

While the shelter flooded during a storm last month, major flooding is not expected Tuesday evening while wind speeds are forecast to exceed 70 mph.

Some 162,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in New York since 2022. Many of them have been transported to the state from Texas, which has sent thousands of migrants to so-called “sanctuary cities” in retaliation for what Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has described as an immigration “crisis” along the U.S.-Mexico border.

New York City continues to care for roughly 70,000 migrants, connecting them with temporary housing and social services as they arrive in the city.

This is a developing story and will be updated.