Expect more illegal immigrants is the warning New York recently sent to its schools in light of President Barack Obama's new unilateral immigration reform measures.
New York's Department of Education told principals it plans to enroll 2,350 migrant children from Central America who have crossed into the U.S. unaccompanied, The New York Post reported, emphasizing that many more are expected to arrive in coming years.
"It is expected that children will continue to arrive in large numbers in the coming years," according to a DOE memo obtained by The Post.
"The notice comes as the city rolls out a $50 million red carpet for 1,662 minors who crossed the border this summer to escape violence and gangs in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador," The Post wrote.
"In the 'surge,' 5,000 of the 63,000 migrant kids caught trying to cross US borders - or who turned themselves in for refuge - have been released to relatives or other 'sponsors' in New York state. Most live with other illegal immigrants."
So far, Queens has received the highest number of unaccompanied minors, 732, followed by Brooklyn at 434, The Bronx, 433, Manhattan, 63, and Staten Island with less than 50, according to federal reports.
New York State already has an estimated 350,000 children of illegal immigrants living there, accounting for about 12 percent of the public school population, reported The Post.
The DOE refused to talk with The Post about exact number of children recently enrolled in New York City schools because it would "violate student privacy."
With an average cost of $20,749 spent per student for each academic year, the illegal immigrant students would cost taxpayers an additional $48.7 million per year.
"But the costs could soar, because the youths - many of them victims of poverty and abuse - will need state-mandated English-language instruction, free or reduced-price lunch, and a range of other services, including psychological counseling, medical and dental, "notes The Post.
"The DOE believes that every child has a right to a great education, and we are committed to providing children who have escaped violence with the academic foundation and access to services that they need to establish a path to long-term achievement," DOE spokeswoman Devora Kaye told The Post.
The DOE has even instructed school staff to first and foremost register the students - following up on their documentation should be done at a later date.
