# Schools Not Shelters Act: What It Actually Does

This bill would ban public schools and colleges from using their buildings to house immigrants who haven't been officially admitted to the United States. If a school receives any federal funding—which most do—they would be prohibited from providing shelter to these individuals, even temporarily. The only exception would be for emergency situations caused by natural disasters like fires, floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes.

The practical impact is straightforward: schools couldn't open their gymnasiums, cafeterias, or other facilities as emergency shelters for migrants, even if local or state governments asked them to do so. This matters because during immigration surges, cities and states have sometimes used school buildings as temporary housing when other shelter options are full. Under this bill, that wouldn't be allowed if the school receives any federal money—and that covers virtually every public school and college in America.

The bill specifically targets people who haven't been admitted to the country yet, meaning asylum seekers, people crossing the border, or others in immigration processing. It doesn't affect people who are already legally in the country or citizens. Schools could still provide meals, education, or other services to these individuals; the ban only applies to using school facilities as actual shelter or housing.

For schools and communities, this could create a real problem. If a city is overwhelmed with migrants needing shelter and schools are off-limits, local officials would need to find alternative solutions—whether that's hotels, warehouses, or other facilities. The bill essentially removes one tool that communities have used to manage immigration-related housing challenges, potentially shifting the burden to other resources or leaving gaps in emergency shelter capacity.

Schools Not Shelters Act

Molinaro, Marcus J.

Schools Not Shelters Act This bill prohibits using the facilities of certain schools that receive federal financial assistance to provide shelter or housing for any non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who has not been admitted for lawful entry. Specifically, this bill shall apply to the facilities of (1) public elementary or secondary schools, and (2) institutions of higher education. This prohibition shall not apply to shelter or housing provided in response to certain disasters such as a fire, flood, explosion, or tornado for which there has been a disaster declaration.